The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) has invited bids from local and international companies for the development of total grid connected capacity of 77.6 MW DC on turnkey basis, to be sited across Chattagram, Dinajpur and Rangamati regions in the country.

Of the total capacity tendered, 50 MW DC capacity is to be located at Rangunia in Chattagram and needs to be commissioned within 12 months from the date of signing of the contract. Another 20 MW DC solar PV capacity needs to be sited at Baropukuria, Fulbari in Dinajpur with completion time desired to be 10 months.

Remaining 7.6 MW DC solar power plant will be developed at Kaptai in Rangamati area within 8 months of contract execution with the tendering agency.

According to BPDB, this entire capacity will be developed using cash foreign exchange under its Power Sector Development Fund (PSDF). Power generated will be procured by BPDB. It also plans to provide land for the projects.

Modules to be procured must have a minimum of 550W power output with at least 20.0% efficiency. “Each solar PV module shall be warranted by the manufacturer for output wattage, which should not be less than 90% at the end of 10 years and 80% at the end of 25 years. If the module(s) fail(s) to exhibit such power output in prescribed life span, the contractor shall provide additional PV module(s) to compensate the loss of power output,” according to tender documents.

All 3 tenders were launched by the company that operates under the federal Ministry of Power, Energy & Mineral Resources on February 16, 2023. Last date to submit bids for all is April 2, 2023.  

In January 2023, Indian EPC Rays Power Infra said it grid connected 275 MW DC solar power plant in Gaibandha region of Bangladesh calling it the single largest solar PV project in the country (see Bangladesh’s ‘Single Largest’ Solar Power Plant Commissioned).