Magura man powers home with solar, sells surplus

Akhteruzzaman, an entrepreneur from Magura, installed a solar power system to meet his household’s electricity needs. Besides, he is selling the surplus electricity to the rural electricity cooperative.

This venture was reported in Magura. He comes from Kechuadubi village of Maghi Union in Sadar upazila.

Akhteruzzaman studied at a private university in Dhaka. In 2023, he collected nine solar panels from Nawabpur in Dhaka for his household needs. Each panel has a power generation capacity of 550 to 630 watts. He installed the panels on the roof of his house, and electricity generation began in December 2023.

Akhteruzzaman said his solar power project generates an average of 4.9 kilowatts, or 4,900 watts, of electricity per day. Using on-grid inverter technology, he has been supplying around 700 units of surplus electricity every month to the main grid of Magura Palli Bidyut Samity after meeting his own needs from the beginning. At a rate of Tk 10.50 per unit, he earns Tk 7,350 a month.

He told the total cost of implementing the initiative was Tk 184,000.

Asked how he sells electricity generated at his home, Akhteruzzaman mentioned net metering is required to supply electricity generated through a private initiative to the national grid. For this purpose, he introduced an institution called ‘Saleha Oil Mill’. Akhteruzzaman engages the institution for metering, after which the electricity is supplied to the national grid.

“Renewable energy is being given importance across the world. The present government of Bangladesh is also placing special emphasis on renewable energy generation. If I receive the necessary cooperation and encouragement from the local electricity department, I want to expand this project on a larger scale in the future”, cited Akhteruzzaman.

Md Rezaul Karim, deputy general manager (DGM) of Magura Palli Bidyut Samity’s Arpara Zonal Office, said, “Connecting electricity generated through solar power to the national grid is a priority project of the government to address the electricity crisis. Akhteruzzaman is making some contribution by supplying electricity generated from the solar system, he installed to the national grid. I applaud his innovative venture. Such efforts will encourage others as well.”