Idea Bank — Request for Climate Startups
Green Special Economic Zone
A policy and development blueprint adapting Hainan's all-EV clean-energy SEZ model for Bangladesh.
The ask
Design and advocate for a Bangladesh Green SEZ — a geographically bounded export-processing zone (the Mirsarai Economic Zone is the obvious candidate) operating under a mandate to run on 100 % renewable energy, permit only zero-emission vehicles inside the zone, and achieve net-zero scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030.
Why now
Hainan Province achieved a de-facto clean-energy SEZ ahead of China's 2060 net-zero target by combining EV mandates, solar procurement targets, and grid isolation into a single policy package. The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) takes full effect in 2026 — BD's garment exports are not currently in scope, but pressure on scope 3 emissions from EU buyers means industrial zone carbon intensity is becoming a commercial issue. BEZA (Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority) is actively seeking a signature project for its first MSCI ESG-rated zone.
Why Bangladesh
The Mirsarai Economic Zone in Chittagong is the largest greenfield industrial development in South Asian history (30,000+ acres), and construction is only 20 % complete — there is still time to embed a clean-energy mandate in the design. Chittagong's coastal location gives excellent solar and (emerging) offshore wind resources. A credibly green zone would attract Japanese, South Korean, and European manufacturers who face internal scope 3 reporting obligations. The first green zone in South Asia would be a significant FDI differentiator.
As a business
This is primarily a policy and development-advisory play, not a direct investment. Revenue from a specialist firm: advisory contracts with BEZA, JICA, and ADB on zone design; transaction-advisory fees on renewable energy procurement for zone tenants; a renewable-energy utility concession inside the zone (the most valuable long-term asset — own the solar plant that sells power to 500 factories). The utility concession is where the venture return lives.
Economics
Move the sliders to model your own green-zone energy utility. Defaults are order-of-magnitude estimates — pressure-testing them is part of what a founder pitches us.
Model a green SEZ solar utility
Does not break even within 5 years at these inputs — adjust the sliders. Hover or tap the chart for any month.
Illustrative model — defaults are order-of-magnitude estimates from public data, not a forecast. Pressure-test every number before you build.
What ZEPH would back
We are directly interested in the utility-concession play at Mirsarai — it is the type of infrastructure asset ZEPH Capital wants to hold. We'd back a founder or team that can navigate BEZA procurement, structure a PPP, and bring in a development-finance co-investor (JICA, AIIB) to fund the solar plant. Policy advocacy for the green mandate is a precondition; the renewable utility concession is the prize.
Impact
A 200 MW solar utility serving a fully green SEZ displaces roughly 280,000 MWh/year of coal-fired grid power — equivalent to avoiding ~224,000 tCO₂e annually at Bangladesh's grid emission factor of 0.8 kg CO₂e/kWh. On-zone EV mandates and zero-emission logistics eliminate scope 1 transport emissions across thousands of daily vehicle movements. EU CBAM pressure means a credibly green zone commands a measurable FDI premium over conventional SEZs, translating into hard-currency lease income and potentially billions of dollars in additional export revenue for Bangladesh.
Also being built elsewhere
Companies proving the model in other markets.
World's first zero-carbon SEZ — proves 100% renewable mandate is commercially attractive to tenants.
South Africa's first green industrial SEZ focused on renewable energy component manufacturing.
Emerging-market SEZ running its own 88 MW solar plant, demonstrating that captive renewables attract FDI.
More Clean Energy ideas
Other climate businesses we want built.