ST PVSolar Simulator for Bangladesh: Net-Metered, Bankable Solar Design in Taka
Bangladesh is one of the most interesting rooftop solar markets in South Asia. Land is scarce, factories need cleaner and more reliable power, and the government has been tightening and expanding its net-metering framework. For design teams, that creates an opportunity and a challenge: the rules that decide whether a project pays back are changing quickly.
IST PVSolar Simulator is built around one idea: simulate once, then generate every report from that single run, in the currency, tax and grid rules of the country you are working in. This article shows how that approach fits Bangladesh.
Why Bangladesh needs a country-aware simulator
A generic solar model that ignores local rules can mislead you in three ways. It may value exported power at the wrong rate, apply the wrong tax treatment, or produce documents that do not match what the distribution utility expects. For Bangladesh, the main drivers are:
- Net metering under the Net Metering Guidelines 2025, which replaced the 2018 framework.
- Dense urban demand and limited land, which makes rooftop and captive C&I systems the practical focus.
- Frequent policy updates, including incentive tariffs and mandatory rooftop solar requirements for some new connections.
- Taka-denominated costs and revenues, which lenders and factory owners want to see in local currency.
IST PVSolar Simulator treats each of these as an editable project input rather than a hard-coded assumption.
The country data that drives a Bangladesh project
The simulator stores country-wise defaults for the inputs below. The table shows what each one means for a Bangladesh project and the publicly reported context behind it. Where a figure depends on your tariff category, your utility or the current default in the software, the table says so, because these values change and should always be confirmed before a report is issued.
|
Input in the simulator |
Bangladesh context |
|---|---|
|
Currency |
Bangladeshi taka (BDT, Tk). Reported figures imply roughly Tk 122 per US$ (Tk 10.50 is quoted as about US$0.086). Confirm the live rate in the project. |
|
Currency rate per 1 US$ |
Use the current rate when you build the project. The simulator lets you edit it. |
|
Electricity tariff |
Depends on the tariff category (residential, commercial, industrial, medium voltage) set by the regulator. Enter the rate from your own bill. |
|
Tariff escalation (%/yr) |
An editable assumption. Bangladesh raised retail tariffs several times in 2023, so test low, base and high escalation cases. |
|
Discount rate (%) |
An editable assumption that reflects your cost of capital in Taka. |
|
VAT / GST on equipment |
Applied per CAPEX item with input-tax credit where relevant. Confirm the current rate and any duty waivers for solar equipment. |
|
CO₂ grid factor (kg/kWh) |
Used for emissions-avoided reporting. Confirm the default in the simulator against the latest published grid factor. |
|
Corporate tax (%) |
Varies by company type and sector. Confirm the applicable rate with your tax adviser. |
|
Depreciation |
Choose straight-line, declining-balance or custom in the financial model to match your accounting treatment. |
|
Export scheme |
Net metering under the Net Metering Guidelines 2025. |
|
Export fixed price (price/kWh) |
An incentive tariff of Tk 10.50/kWh for surplus electricity from eligible rooftop systems has been announced. |
|
Export credit (× tariff) |
Under net metering, exported energy offsets imported energy and the net balance is settled monthly. Some summaries report that 90% of exported energy is credited after a 10% deduction. Confirm against the official guideline text. |
|
Export rule lasts (years) |
The announced incentive tariff applies for three years, through February 2030, for eligible systems installed by 28 February 2027. |
|
After the term |
Unused credit is reported to be purchased by the utility at the regulator's bulk generation rate. Model a conservative case for revenue after the incentive period. |
|
Export only for systems ≥ / ≤ (kWp) |
AC capacity up to 100% of sanctioned load (previously 70%), or up to 80% of transformer rating for 11 kV and above connections. |
|
Utility name |
BPDB, BREB, DESCO, DPDC, NESCO or WZPDCL, depending on the site. The regulator is BERC and SREDA oversees renewables. |
|
Grid-connection approval |
Online application to the distribution utility. Reported approval time is about 10 working days, and the single-line diagram should show anti-islanding protection. |
|
Net-metering / export policy |
Net Metering Guidelines 2025, including eligibility for single-phase consumers, payment in Taka to bank or mobile accounts, and online application. |
|
Export explanation |
The simulator shows how the export rule is applied, so a reader can see how the revenue was calculated. |
A note on accuracy: the figures above come from public reporting and policy summaries, not from a certified rulebook. Every field in IST PVSolar Simulator is editable, and administrators can update a country's values with the date and source shown. Always verify against the official guideline and your utility before you submit a project.
Recent policy points worth modelling
Several Bangladesh developments directly affect project design:
- Higher system size limit. The 2025 guidelines raised the allowed capacity from 70% to 100% of sanctioned load.
- Single-phase eligibility. Smaller commercial and residential users can now take part.
- Incentive tariff. Tk 10.50/kWh for surplus power from eligible systems installed by 28 February 2027, for three years.
- Mandatory rooftop solar for some connections. Reporting on a December 2025 Power Division circular says buildings with at least 1,000 sq ft of usable roof, and some larger-load industrial and commercial connections, face minimum solar requirements. Check the exact thresholds before you size a system.
Because these are inputs in the simulator, you can run one design under several policy cases and see how payback and IRR change.
One simulation, every document
The core promise of the platform is that a single run feeds every output. In a Bangladesh project, that includes:
- Energy yield, performance ratio and a full loss waterfall, with soiling and temperature losses you can edit.
- P50, P75, P90 and P95 yields with Monte Carlo uncertainty.
- A single-line diagram, array table, cable schedule and protection schedule that a utility engineer can review.
- NPV, project and equity IRR, LCOE, payback and DSCR, in Taka.
- A bankability report, a Detailed Project Report and an EPC proposal with a bill of quantities.
Change the module, the tariff or the export rule, run again, and every document updates together.
Engineering depth that suits Bangladeshi sites
The engine follows international methods, including IEC 61724-1 performance accounting, IEC 61853 module rating, a single-diode cell model, Perez transposition and IEC 60364-7-712 for PV electrical design. The simulation runs hourly or every 15 minutes, with 3D shading for crowded rooftops, mixed-orientation arrays, bifacial and tracker options for ground sites, and battery dispatch for factories that want backup or peak-shaving analysis.
Weather data can be imported from PVGIS or NASA POWER in one click, or from your own hourly file.
Who benefits in Bangladesh
|
User |
What they get |
|---|---|
|
Rooftop EPCs |
Fast quotations, BOQ and utility-ready drawings |
|
Garment and industrial factories |
Self-consumption, export and payback analysis in Taka |
|
OPEX and third-party investors |
Bankability metrics, DSCR and risk analysis |
|
Consultants and lender's engineers |
Transparent losses, P-values and uncertainty |
|
Universities and trainers |
Research and teaching tools for solar design |
A seven-step workflow for a Bangladesh project
- Select Bangladesh, enter the site and import a weather year.
- Set orientation and row pitch, then run shading checks.
- Choose modules and inverters and build the sub-arrays.
- Review loss assumptions, especially soiling, temperature and degradation.
- Enter CAPEX, OPEX, financing, tariff, the export rule and the tax settings.
- Run the simulation.
- Generate the SLD, schedules, bankability report and DPR.
Frequently asked questions
Does IST PVSolar Simulator support Bangladesh net metering? Yes. You can model net metering, set the export tariff and limits, and see how the export rule affects revenue.
Can I work in Bangladeshi taka? Yes. The platform supports multi-currency costing, so CAPEX, OPEX, tariffs and returns can be shown in Taka.
Are the Bangladesh defaults guaranteed to be current? No. Defaults are editable and should be checked against the latest guideline, regulator orders and your utility before submission.
Can I test different policy scenarios? Yes. Change the export price, term, capacity limit or tariff escalation and rerun to compare outcomes.
Does it replace utility approval? No. It supports a well-documented design, while approvals, permits and equipment certification remain the project team's responsibility.
Design once, deliver in Taka
Bangladesh's solar rules are moving fast, so the best tool is one that lets you change assumptions without rebuilding your project. With IST PVSolar Simulator, the yield, the finances and the paperwork come from one run, in the currency and rules of the market you are building in.
Read the original One Simulation, Every Report, Any Country article, explore the product page, or create an account to start your first Bangladesh project.