JA Solar, a member of the Solar Module Super League, has inked a significant agreement with the Paramount Group, an influential Bangladeshi energy organization, to provide photovoltaic (PV) modules for their ongoing 150MW solar project in Bangladesh.
The Paramount Group is poised to complete the construction of this substantial project by year-end, a development that will position it as the second-largest PV plant in Bangladesh in terms of capacity. While JA Solar did not specify the exact module to be utilized in this endeavor, it's worth noting that the company unveiled the DeepBlue 4.0 Pro module earlier this year at SNEC, expressing optimism about expanding its presence in the burgeoning Bangladeshi solar market.
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Daniel Li, JA Solar's Sales Director of Southeast Asia, remarked, “Paramount Group has far-reaching influence in Bangladesh, and JA Solar is honored to establish cooperation with Paramount Group. We hope that the cooperation between JA Solar and Paramount Group will promote the popularization and application of PV in Bangladesh and create more value for the Bangladeshi PV market.”
This development marks the latest positive stride in JA Solar's involvement in the Bangladeshi solar industry, as well as the broader energy transition within the country. In 2018, JA Solar supplied all the modules for Bangladesh's inaugural utility-scale project, a 28MW farm developed by the Bangladeshi firm Joules Power.
Earlier this year, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank, unveiled plans to provide funding aimed at expediting the energy transition in several countries, including Bangladesh. The national government of Bangladesh has set ambitious targets, aiming to fulfill 40% of its energy demand by 2041 and achieve 100% of its power demand from renewable sources by 2050. However, it has encountered challenges in meeting these targets in the lead-up to the deadlines.
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The government's goal was to generate 10% of its total energy from renewable sources by 2021. As of June this year, however, less than 5% of its electricity was sourced from clean power, as reported by the East Asia Forum. This situation is also reflected in the solar sector, where the government initially aimed for an installed solar capacity of 2GW by 2021, following JA Solar's initial investment in the country. Yet, as of 2022, the installed solar capacity stood at 1.7GW.
Despite these hurdles, the presence of a globally recognized solar manufacturer like JA Solar in Bangladesh is expected to contribute significantly to the growth of the Bangladeshi solar sector and aid in achieving its renewable energy targets.
Paramount Group's Chairman, Shakhawat Hossain, expressed optimism about the collaboration, stating, “As a leading PV company, JA Solar has won a good reputation worldwide for its excellent technical strength and product quality. We look forward to working together to promote the development of Bangladesh's PV market through the signing of this agreement.”
