Net metering can be an incentive

Net metering system has now become the focus of new discussions in the electricity sector of Bangladesh. Net metering is gaining importance day by day in rooftop solar projects, especially in Dhaka. Energy experts believe that this system can become a major alternative in the future due to the increasing demand for electricity, the pressure of importing energy for production, and the challenges of climate change.

Net metering is a system where by installing solar panels on the roof of a house, institution, or industrial plant and generating electricity, the excess electricity can be fed into the national grid. The price of that excess electricity is adjusted with the electricity bill taken from the grid. As a result, the customer meets his electricity demand on the one hand, and also reduces costs by selling electricity.

In the context of Dhaka, this system has already been proven to be effective. Rooftop solar has been installed in some schools, hospitals, and commercial buildings in the capital, from where the excess electricity is being supplied to the grid. In this way, the monthly electricity bill of government offices or hospitals is being reduced by more than half.

Experts say that although solar home systems are not sustainable in urban life, rooftop solar can be effective through a net metering system as the roofs of multi-storey buildings in Dhaka are usable, where a large amount of electricity can be generated at once. On the other hand, the net metering system does not waste excess electricity. Rather, it is connected to the national grid and used elsewhere.

The government has also taken the issue seriously. The Power Development Board has said that the government has a plan to connect at least 3,000 megawatts of electricity to the grid through rooftop solar by 2025. A large part of this will be effective through the net metering system. Educational institutions, government offices, hospitals and factories will be brought under this system.

There are also some challenges in implementing net metering effectively. They are maintaining technical standards, creating customer confidence, giving tax and duty exemptions and making necessary components including inverters easily available. There are allegations that there are complications in getting a net metering connection and there is no transparency in calculating bills. Experts believe that this system will quickly become popular if these problems can be resolved.

Net metering is not just a technical solution; it is a new horizon for increasing public participation in power generation. If alternative sources of electricity are created through rooftop solar across the country, starting from the capital Dhaka, it will greatly strengthen the country's energy security.