Bangladesh BPDB will initiate a bidding process for a grid connected photovoltaic project with a total capacity of 495MW. The project will be implemented at 10 sites across the country, with a single installed capacity ranging from 25 to 100 MW, and will be fully invested and constructed by private capital throughout the process. The bidding model this time places the two major risks of land acquisition and project financing on the shoulders of developers, leading investors to generally question the difficulty of project financing and the lack of investment attractiveness. The bidding plan is to build grid connected photovoltaic power stations with a total capacity of 495MW in 10 regions of Bangladesh. The proposed photovoltaic power station has a single unit capacity range of 25MW to 100MW, and the project's landing scope covers Kishoreganj、Chattogram、Kurigram、Mymensingh、Cox’s Bazar、Panchagarh、Lalmonirhat、Netrokona And Tangail and other regions.

Project construction planning

The relevant person in charge of the Bangladesh Electricity Development Board stated that the photovoltaic power stations tendered this time will be located around existing substations in nine regions for construction, which is an important supporting project for the local government to achieve the target of installing 10000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2030. Officially, bidding companies are required to purchase project construction land on their own and independently declare the electricity sales price to the Electricity Commission. The government does not provide land and various development support, and all project funds are raised through private channels.

Bidding Requirements

This bidding has clear and standardized participation rules, and bidding companies are required to pay a bid security deposit of $5000 per megawatt. The deadline for purchasing bidding documents is June 25, 2026, and the final submission deadline for bids is June 28. The pre bidding meeting for the project will be held on May 18 at Bidyut Bhaban in Dhaka.

The relevant person in charge of BSREA in Bangladesh stated that the bidding rules have raised high concerns among private investors. The person in charge stated in an interview that the response to similar bidding markets was poor last year, but this time the old bidding model is still being used, making it difficult to attract high-quality capital to settle in, and the enthusiasm of international investors to participate is extremely low. This bidding model contradicts the latest PPP support policy in the local area. The new policy originally planned to provide land assistance to private developers, but the current bidding still shifts the core pressure of land acquisition to investors, and land issues are also the biggest challenge for the landing of photovoltaic projects. Keywords: Bangladesh, photovoltaic, PPP model

Industry experts point out that the core financing pain points of the project have not yet been resolved. The lack of a clear payment guarantee system and strong contractual backstop clauses is a core concern for private developers and international investors, directly affecting the landing of project financing and investment confidence. If the relevant issues cannot be improved, the investment participation and implementation progress of the project will be severely constrained. Industry insiders suggest that the local government should abandon the existing bidding model and transform into a PPP photovoltaic project model with better land supporting facilities and stronger financing capabilities, in order to promote the healthy development of the industry.Editor/Gong Ziwei