Solar EPC Development Ltd. (SEPC) is a leading and fastest-growing solar power project developer and consultancy firm. Recently, Huawei and Solar EPC have signed MOU to turn Bangladesh’s textile and apparel industries into green energy dependent on implementing a cumulative capacity of 50 MW rooftop solar projects. And Solar EPC Development Ltd. will provide total quality, engineering and project management in solar PV projects.
Ezaz Al Qudrat A Mazid, Founder and Managing Director of Solar EPC Development Ltd., has shared his thoughts on the ongoing energy crisis and ways to come out of this.
Textile Today: Kindly share with us the need to transform into renewable energy and how Solar EPC supports the industry in the current energy crisis.
Ezaz Al Qudrat A Mazid: In the current energy crisis we are observing in Bangladesh – one of the best immediate alternative solutions is solar energy. We are mainly focusing on the textile and apparel industry – which provides more than 84% of the revenue of annual export, and a recent survey report showed that Bangladesh’s textile and apparel rooftops could generate 300MW electricity by installing rooftop solar panels.
To put it in a nutshell, immediately installing rooftop solar panels in the textile and RMG factories will provide a minimum of 3 to 4 of electricity – or some factories are producing surplus electricity from solar. In this case, they are exporting surplus electricity to the national grid.
A great example of that is recently Solar EPC Development Ltd and Huawei Technologies (Bangladesh) Ltd. team worked together for the successful commissioning of a 2.8 MW rooftop solar PV power plant at AKH Knitting & Dyeing Ltd. During the daytime, the factory does not need to use electricity from any other utility. In addition, after fulfilling their 100% need they are exporting the rest of the power to the national grid.
This transformation towards solar power is getting more traction the textile and apparel entrepreneurs, as the electricity is getting expensive and more and more unstable.
We are seeing a sea of change in the country – even the export processing zones (EPZ) are taking initiative to implement rooftop solar.
Solar EPC Development Ltd. as a leading EPC company in the country – is bringing the latest technologies and providing for the textile and apparel industry cost-effectively.
We recently signed an MOU with Huawei Technologies (Bangladesh) Ltd. to provide 50 MW of solar energy. And we have already achieved 10 MW of the targeted capacity and achieve the rest of the target soon.
We are optimistic regarding the solar transformation in the country. And within a very short time industries will adopt solar energy.
Textile Today: Kindly brief us about the processes and other essential things an entrepreneur should take to implement industrial-scale rooftop solar.
Ezaz Al Qudrat A Mazid: If any entrepreneur gives us a call to show their interest in solar – in that case, Solar EPC provides a free-of-cost site survey and a detailed engineering study. Besides, we take steps to implement projects at the quickest of times. We have already implemented 3 to 5 MW projects within 30 to 40 days. We also have end solutions and services.
Most importantly, at the moment Bangladeshi companies do not have any financing difficulties in terms of doing solar plants. As the govt. and the Bangladesh Bank have a lot of green financing policies to finance solar projects. Also, a lot of leasing companies are extending their hands to invest in rooftop solar projects.
In addition, I will urge the govt. to give more focus to the sector in terms of easing taxation, smoothing customs processes, etc.
I think the government has taken the energy policy at the right time. While the industries also took the initiative at the right opportune moment. Yes, there are some challenges in the country due to the unstable global scenario, but we are hopeful that we will overcome the energy crisis through solar.
