Govt mulls using school rooftops to promote renewable energy: Nasrul Hamid

The government is considering installing solar panels on rooftops of primary and secondary schools in a bid to promote renewable energy, said Nasrul Hamid, state minister for power, energy and mineral resources.

"Land shortage is one of the main obstacles to renewable energy. Considering such limitations, the rooftops of primary and secondary schools have been considered for increasing power generation from renewable sources," he said while addressing a seminar titled "Nesco toward 2041: Challenge and Way Forward" on Sunday.

The Northern Electricity Supply Company (Nesco) is responsible for supplying electricity in 16 districts of the Northern region.

Nasrul Hamid further said that the government is also working to turn all diesel-run irrigation pumps into the solar irrigation system. Power distribution companies have a scope to enter into power generation, but it will be better if they do it through renewable energy. 

Zakiul Islam, managing director of Northern Electricity Supply Company (Nesco), presented the keynote in the seminar while Md Mohsin Chowdhury, chairman of Nesco Board, chaired the event.

Md Nurul Alam, additional secretary (planning) of the Power Division; Munira Sultana, chairman of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority; Mohammad Hossain, director general of Power Cell, Md Habibur Rahman, secretary of Power Division, and Engineer Md Mahbubur Rahman, chairman of Bangladesh Power Development Board, spoke on the occasion among others.