Bangladesh has joined a global initiative aimed at providing solar power to 300 million homes worldwide by 2030. The country has called for international cooperation and investment to expand rooftop solar installations.

Bangladesh endorsed the Global Rooftop Solar Declaration on Monday at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye. The nation joined Kenya, Nigeria, and Vanuatu in supporting the initiative, following Australia as its initial supporter.

The initiative aims to double the number of solar-powered households worldwide to 300 million by 2030 by reducing installation costs, simplifying approval processes, modernising electricity grids and developing a skilled workforce.

Endorsing the declaration, Power Division Secretary Mirana Mahrukh stated that Bangladesh was committed to developing 5,500MW of rooftop solar capacity by 2030. An indicative implementation plan envisages installing solar systems on approximately 870,000 rooftops.

Under a proposed financing plan, 20% of the investment would come from domestic sources, while the remaining 80% would require international financing. This means domestic resources would support installations on around 174,000 rooftops, with international cooperation needed for the remaining 696,000.

Mahrukh appealed to global partners to help mobilize affordable financing, advanced technologies, and investment in order to transform rooftops into sources of clean energy and economic opportunities.

Bangladesh is increasingly turning to rooftop solar as an alternative energy source amid mounting pressure on its power and energy sector, driven by a reliance on imported fossil fuels and ongoing supply constraints.

Welcoming the declaration, Dipal C Barua, chairman of the Bright Green Energy Foundation, stated that Pakistan had recently set a global example in off-grid solar power generation. He added that this initiative could serve as an inspiration for energy-deficient countries such as Bangladesh.

"Like Pakistan, Bangladesh is also facing an acute energy crisis. Encouragingly, the government has recently adopted a more positive approach towards renewable energy, introducing a dedicated ordinance for solar power, alongside tax incentives, financing mechanisms and dedicated funding facilities," he said.

Barua stated that these measures were accelerating the installation of rooftop solar systems in industrial facilities as well as among households located outside the national grid.

“If implemented successfully, Bangladesh could emerge as a model for other densely populated, energy-deficient countries within the next five years,” he added.

Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, president of the Knowledge Hub Institute, stated that the new government had demonstrated political commitment to expanding the use of renewable energy through various policy and implementation measures.

However, establishing an efficient domestic supply chain for renewable energy should be a priority, he said.

He cautioned that plans to expand liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure and extract domestic coal for power generation could place additional financial pressure on the government and prove unsustainable in the long run.

Moazzem also stressed the need to address the financial losses of state-owned energy-sector entities. Drawing lessons from Pakistan, he stated that gradually phasing out energy subsidies could help reduce public utility losses while encouraging consumers to transition from gas, LNG, diesel, and LPG to electricity, alongside a growing share of power derived from renewable sources.

Balancing the immediate energy crisis with a gradual transition to cleaner energy, while avoiding costly policy mistakes, would represent a major test of the government's political leadership, he added.

Australian Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, who also serves as the president of negotiations for COP31, stated that rooftop solar has allowed households to play a central role in Australia's energy transition.

One in three Australian homes has rooftop solar panels, which represents the highest proportion in the world, he stated. The global declaration is designed to extend Australia's experience to other countries.

Ibrahim A Shelleng, Nigeria's senior special assistant to the president on climate finance and stakeholder engagement, stated that investment in solar infrastructure could strengthen energy independence, create jobs, and reduce long-term infrastructure costs.

The Global Rooftop Solar Declaration calls on national, state, and local governments to accelerate the deployment of rooftop solar and household batteries. This is to be achieved through simpler approval processes, affordable financing, modernized electricity grids, equitable access, and workforce training.

The Global Solar Council and Solar Citizens welcomed the new endorsements, stating that coordinated international efforts could help provide affordable and reliable electricity to households worldwide.

The initiative also seeks to address barriers that have slowed rooftop solar adoption in many emerging economies, including inadequate financing, weak grid infrastructure and a shortage of skilled workers.

Why it matters

Endorsing the Global Rooftop Solar Declaration commits Bangladesh to securing international financing to establish 5,500MW of rooftop solar capacity and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.