The reliance of various industries on rooftop solar systems is steadily increasing, as this low-cost power production project enjoys easy access to investment at low-interest rates.
Adequate supply of electricity stands as a crucial prerequisite for uninterrupted factory operations, pivotal for maintaining optimal business growth. So when grid fails, industries depend on various sources like gas or oil-run generators to ensure power supply, which is too costly.
However, solar energy-based power generated from factory rooftops presents a cost-effective alternative, which is even lower than that from the national grid, but its potentials are yet to be fully explored, says a press release.
Square Textiles Limited, a yarn manufacturing company at Kashimpur, Gazipur, has recently installed a 2.64 megawatt (peak) solar project on the rooftop of their factory to generate electricity from alternative sources for running operation round-the-clock, with around 3,400 employees working in three shifts.
Apart from consuming electricity from the national grid, the company depends on three types of sources -- natural gas, biogas and solar power to meet its annual electricity demand of about 44,443,727 units.
Shah Didarul Islam, assistant general manager (AGM) of the engineering department of the company, said the company's dependence on solar power now-a-days has increased substantially due to its cost-effectiveness.
"Power from generators using natural gas costs Tk 8.15 per unit, diesel-generated power at around Tk 29.15 per unit, and the power from national grid costs about Tk 8.81 in off-peak hours, but the cost of power generated from solar panels installed on the rooftop is about Tk 6 .50 per unit," he said.
Mohammad Shaheed Raihan, Deputy General Manager, Production Department, Square Textiles, said that the factory's solar project has been playing a special role in ensuring sustainable development and energy security of the organisation.
He said necessary technical instructions and short-term low-interest loans from Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) ensures uninterrupted power supply in the factory.
The IDCOL has provided financial and technical supports to Square Textiles Mills for the implementation of this project.
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