Asian Paints Bangladesh Limited has commissioned an 850-kilowatt-peak rooftop solar power plant at its manufacturing facility in the National Special Economic Zone (NSEZ) in Chattogram, as manufacturers increasingly turn to renewable energy to cut costs and reduce carbon emissions.
The project, inaugurated on Sunday, is expected to generate about 1,440 megawatt-hours of electricity annually and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 724 metric tonnes a year, according to a press release issued by the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA).
Asian Paints said the installation would reduce dependence on grid electricity by as much as 70 per cent during peak daytime hours while lowering energy costs by 20-25 per cent compared with grid-supplied power.
The solar facility has been installed across about 7,000 square metres of rooftop space within the factory complex, which has a total roof area of 10,190 square metres.
Implemented under an operational expenditure model, the project required no upfront capital investment while allowing the company to secure immediate environmental and financial benefits.
The investment reflects a broader push by industrial companies to improve energy efficiency and align operations with growing sustainability requirements.
Asian Paints, one of the early investors in the NSEZ, began production at the industrial park in 2021 and has since become one of its major manufacturing tenants.
BEZA said the project supports Bangladesh’s efforts to expand renewable energy use and promote climate-resilient industrialisation.
About 15 factories are currently in operation at the NSEZ, while nearly 20 more industrial projects are under construction.
The economic zone, stretching roughly 25 kilometres along the coast, is being developed as one of Bangladesh’s largest planned industrial hubs, combining industrial facilities with urban infrastructure and services.
