Mandatory installation of solar panels on building roofs goes

The government has decided to withdraw the mandatory requirement of installing solar panels on the rooftop of buildings for getting new electricity connections to households, officials said.

According to the new rule, a customer will have to deposit the cost of a solar panel to the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) fund which will help build green power plants for rural areas that are still out of electricity.

"Recently, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MoPEMR) has taken a decision at an inter-ministerial meeting to withdraw the mandatory requirement of installing solar panels for new electricity connections to households," an official of power cell under the MoPEMR told the FE.

He said, "From now on, installation of solar panels on the roof of buildings for getting electricity is not mandatory but it is optional and it would depend on customers' wish."

In November 2010, the government made it mandatory for the customers to install solar panels for getting new electricity connections to households but it was very expensive and the government failed to achieve its desired goal.

Following the rule many customers have taken electricity connections hiring solar panels.

Sheltech managing director Toufiq M Seraj said installation of solar panel which was a precondition to getting new electricity connections was very expensive. As a result, many of realtors have failed to fulfil the requirement, he added.

The MD of one of the leading real estate company said due to lack of electricity connections a large number of ready apartments were yet to be sold out.

Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) General Secretary Md. Wahiduzzaman said "Installation of solar panels on the rooftop of buildings was not realistic because in the city almost all of the building roofs are used for the purpose of family and social functions".

He said installation of solar panels on the building roofs deprives a large number of people of many social functions.

Power cell director general Mohammad Hossain said, "If a customer realises the importance of a solar panel, then he or she would install it. Now it's optional not mandatory," he added.

He said the amount of money for high load electricity connection would be finalised after discussion with the stakeholders. It will not be a problem for the customers, he added.