Bangladesh, home to 175 million people, depends on imports for roughly 95% of its energy requirements. This reliance has become increasingly costly due to price increases linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
To reduce its dependence on imported energy, the country is seeking to expand renewable energy sources as part of a broader effort to diversify its energy mix.
Solar is by far the biggest source of renewable energy in Bangladesh, but only accounts for about 4.5% of its total generating capacity.
The problem is that solar panels are either installed on rooftops or on the ground, but roof space is limited and ground systems take up land that could be used for farming or housing.
“For land-scarce Bangladesh, balancing the needs of food and energy is critical,” said Sohanur Rahman, executive coordinator of YouthNet Global, a climate justice campaign group.
Researchers are now looking at the emerging technology of “agrivoltaics” where crops and livestock share space with solar panels.
The Bangladeshi development organisation BRAC and research organisation the Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) this year launched a research project to mount solar panels above farmland in Manikganj, some 50 km (30 miles) west of the capital Dhaka. The project is funded by the H&M Foundation, a non-profit linked to the Swedish clothing brand H&M.
Shade Good For Workers, But Rice Needs Sunshine
Unlike India and Pakistan, which have built large photovoltaic power parks in arid regions, Bangladesh has little non-agricultural land available for utility-scale solar.
Previous proposals for solar parks have been scrapped due to concerns over loss of land and livelihoods.
But at Manikganj, solar panels are mounted more than 2 metres above the ground, allowing varying amounts of sunlight to filter through to the crops below.
Researchers are monitoring rainfall, wind speed, and other microclimate factors to compare crop yields with nearby control plots and identify the most effective solar panel and crop configurations. Farm workers earn about $7 a day to cultivate rice and other crops beneath the panels.
According to farm worker Dilip Kumar Biswas, the shade helps retain soil moisture and provides relief from summer heat. Previous agrivoltaic trials in Bangladesh have shown promising results for shade-tolerant crops such as ginger and turmeric, while some projects have also tested livestock rearing under solar installations.
The current project focuses on rice, Bangladesh’s staple crop, to determine how it can be grown successfully under solar panels. Researchers are also exploring flood-tolerant rice varieties and durable solar structures capable of withstanding seasonal flooding and severe storms.
Will The Sums Add Up?
The success of agrivoltaic systems depends on balancing installation costs with returns from both crops and electricity.
A 2024 pilot study in Chuadanga found that combining farm and energy income could reduce the solar payback period from five or six years to around three years under favorable conditions.
Researchers say rice yields appear promising, but more data is needed. Currently, the electricity generated powers local irrigation, though regulatory changes would be required to allow farmers to earn directly from surplus power sold to the grid.
Experts stress that clear agreements on land use, payments, and profit-sharing are essential to ensure local communities benefit.
If the model proves successful, the main challenge will be scaling it up while fairly distributing benefits among farmers, landowners, workers, and solar developers.
(With inputs from Reuters)
