Cox's Bazar:The government has initiated plans to establish a 70-megawatt (MW) grid-tied solar power plant on unused land in Matarbari, located in the Maheshkhali upazila of Cox's Bazar district. This project is part of an effort to expand renewable energy sources within the country.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, a Development Project Proposal (DPP) for the solar power project has been submitted to the Planning Commission for review. The project is expected to be completed by 2028, utilizing 171 acres of previously unused land within the 2x600MW Matarbari ultra-supercritical coal-fired power plant's boundary.
The estimated project cost is Tk 604.9762 crore, with contributions from the government, project financing, and the implementing agency's resources. Financial support will be provided by the European Investment Bank under its Bangladesh Renewable Energy Facility framework loan, which includes loans and grant assistance.
The project aims to add electricity to the national grid, reduce fossil fuel dependency, and decrease carbon emissions, aligning with the government's electoral commitments to renewable energy. The solar project will occupy part of the land initially set aside for ash disposal, negating the need for additional land acquisition.
Infrastructure plans include installing solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, inverters, and a one-kilometre overhead transmission line to connect the solar plant to the Matarbari grid substation. Additional installations include a second-circuit overhead conductor and air-insulated switchgear bays at both Matarbari and Chakaria substations.
The project, supported by a feasibility study completed in 2026, aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 7 and the Renewable Energy Policy 2025, which targets meeting 20 percent of electricity demand from renewable sources by 2030.
The Planning Commission's assessment notes that Bangladesh's current installed power generation capacity includes 5.91 percent from renewable sources. However, the Planning Commission has raised several issues for discussion before finalizing the project proposal, including financial viability and the need for detailed accounts of the country's power generation capacities and renewable energy targets.