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The University Grants Commission (UGC) signed an agreement with the Daffodil International University (DIU) to generate solar power in the country's 32 public universities under the OPEX model by 2026. It would be expanded to all public universities in phases, said the UGC in a statement.
The solar operational expenditure (OPEX) model is known as a financing method where a third-party investor funds the solar system, and the customer purchases the generated electricity at a contracted rate.
The agreement was signed at the UGC Auditorium on Tuesday with its Chairman Prof. S. M. A. Faiz present as the chief guest. UGC Secretary Md. Fakhrul Islam and DIU Registrar Mohammad Nadir Bin Ali signed it on behalf of their respective institutions.
The UGC chairman suggested increasing the use of solar power in all public universities to protect the environment and save energy costs.
He advised the colleges under the National University to be included in the solar power installation project.
He also suggested that the country's private universities should also be included in this project in phases.
DIU Vice-Chancellor Prof. M. R. Kabir said Bangladesh is lagging behind in the field of green energy.
Under the agreement, the UGC and the universities would not spend any money on solar power generation. As many as 13 institutions have been listed for investment under the OPEX model.
The DIU would conduct technical assessments and site surveys as well as share information with the participating universities and the UGC.
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