The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) says its new solar panel testing laboratory in Dhaka marks an important step towards enforcing quality standards and supporting the country’s export ambitions.
Bangladesh has opened a testing laboratory to ensure quality and set standards for both domestically produced and imported solar panels. The facility has been set up at the BSTI headquarters in Dhaka and is equipped with German technology.
The laboratory has a high-precision standard solar simulator that can test solar panels up to 2,700 mm x 1,600 mm and measure the performance efficiency of the modules, BSTI officials said.
Bangladesh has 17 standards for solar panels set by the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA).
There are currently two other solar module testing laboratories operating in the country: one at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and another at the United International University (UIU) in Dhaka.
In the past, BSTI has relied on these third-party facilities for certification, but the new laboratory will allow it to independently test and strengthen quality control.
The local solar panel market is dominated by Chinese products, which require certification before entering Bangladesh. The country has also started exporting solar panels, and several export-oriented manufacturing facilities are expected to become operational soon.
“This laboratory will play an important role in importing high-quality solar panels and raising the quality of domestically produced panels to global standards,” said Industry Minister Obaidur Rahman. “The establishment of the solar panel testing laboratory will enable BSTI to maintain international standards in solar energy generation, which will also ensure consumer safety.”
Dipal C. Barua, former chairman of Bangladesh Solar and Renewable Energy Association (BSREA), said pv magazine that the facility will help ensure the quality of the modules and prevent imports of substandard products. “The BSTI must employ highly skilled technicians and experts in the laboratory to accurately measure the performance efficiency of solar panels,” he said.
Muhammad Faisal Hasan, executive engineer at the Bangladesh Power Development Board, added that the laboratory will help improve the quality of solar panels, improve performance and safety, and support Bangladesh’s progress towards its sustainable energy goals.
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