Solar farming to boost clean energy
Bangladesh has taken a step towards expanding renewable energy without putting additional pressure on scarce agricultural land, launching its first scientifically designed, grid-connected agrivoltaics pilot project in Chuadanga.
The 49.6-kilowatt-peak (kWp) project combines solar electricity generation with crop cultivation on the same land, offering a model that could help the country increase clean-energy generation while protecting agricultural productivity and food security.
The Power Division inaugurated the pilot on Wednesday under the Green Energy Transition – Policy Advisory Partnership (GET-PAP) project. The initiative is co-funded by the European Union (EU) and Germany’s
Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by GIZ Bangladesh in partnership with the Power Division.
Green chillies are currently being cultivated at the site, while other suitable seasonal vegetables and rice are planned for cultivation in the coming season.
The project is being developed under the technical guidance of Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE), which is responsible for modelling, technical design and installation, as well as helping build local capacity for similar projects.
Fraunhofer ISE pioneered the concept of agrivoltaics and has more than three decades of experience as a major European research and development service provider in solar energy. Its involvement is aimed at helping Bangladesh establish the technical and institutional foundations needed to develop agrivoltaics at scale.
Solar power and farming on the same land
Agrivoltaics allows agricultural production and solar electricity generation to take place simultaneously, potentially reducing the competition between renewable-energy expansion and food production.
Ahead of the inauguration, hands-on training sessions were organised for local farmers, teachers, researchers, officials from engineering, procurement and construction firms, and system operators.
The training covered shade-tolerant farming practices, system maintenance and digital data collection. The aim was to equip local agricultural communities and industry stakeholders with practical skills to operate, maintain and replicate the model across the country using scientific data.
Policymakers also visited the demonstration plot as part of the inauguration programme. The visit is expected to contribute to developing a roadmap for wider adoption of agrivoltaics and the preparation of national guidelines for the technology.
Speaking as the chief guest, Muhammad Khalequzzaman, Joint Secretary of the Efficiency and Conservation Division of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, said the approach could allow Bangladesh to use land for multiple purposes while pursuing its clean-energy ambitions.
By combining agricultural production with solar generation, Bangladesh can contribute to its sustainable energy goals without compromising agricultural productivity and food security, he said.
Ulrich Kleppmann, Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Dhaka, and Tanzina Dilshad, Programme Manager for Green Inclusive Development at the Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, also spoke at the event.
International and local partnership
The pilot brings together international development partners, public financiers and local organisations.
Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) financed 80 per cent of the installation cost through a capital grant sourced from Germany’s KfW Development Bank.
Local civil society organisation Wave Foundation is the project sponsor. It provided equity financing and is hosting the installation at its solar irrigation pumping site.
GIZ Bangladesh and Fraunhofer ISE are providing comprehensive technical support for the project.
The initiative comes as Bangladesh seeks to accelerate the transition towards cleaner energy sources.
The country has set a target of generating 20 per cent of its electricity from clean energy sources by 2030.
Data from the Chuadanga demonstration site, including crop yields, solar generation and operational performance, are expected to provide evidence for future policy decisions.
The results will help inform national frameworks and guidelines for agrivoltaics, potentially providing Bangladesh with a way to expand solar power while making more efficient use of its limited land resources.
