BD launches first grid-connected agrivoltaics pilot project

To accelerate Bangladesh’s clean energy transition while safeguarding essential agricultural land, Bangladesh’s Power Division officially inaugurated the country’s first scientifically structured, grid-connected agrivoltaics (agri-PV) pilot project in Chuadanga Sadar on Wednesday.

The 49.6 kWp initiative is being piloted under the Green Energy Transition �" Policy Advisory Partnership (GET-PAP) project, co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ in Bangladesh in partnership with the Power Division. 

Currently, green chillies are being cultivated at the pilot site, and there are plans to cultivate other suitable seasonal vegetables and rice in the coming season, says a press release. 

The pilot project is being set up under the technical guidance of Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, a German company which focuses on modelling, technical design and installation, as well as building local capacity for similar projects. 

Fraunhofer ISE is the pioneer of the concept of agrivoltaics, and a leading European research and development service provider for solar energy for more than 30 years, uniquely positioned to help develop the ecosystem for agrivoltaics in Bangladesh.

Leading up to the official inauguration, hands-on training sessions were organized for local farmers, teacher and researchers, and officials from engineering, procurement and construction firms, and system operators. 

A demonstration plot visit for the policymakers was also part of the site inauguration visit, to further help create a roadmap for agrivoltaics uptake and develop national agrivoltaics guidelines.

Muhammad Khalequzzaman, Joint Secretary, Efficiency and Conservation Division of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, said in his speech as the chief guest that by using the land for multiple purposes, Bangladesh will be able to play a role in achieving its sustainable energy goals without compromising on agricultural productivity and food security.

Ulrich Kleppmann, Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Dhaka and Tanzina Dilshad, Programme Manager, Green Inclusive Development, Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh also spoke at the event.

The pilot project highlights strong synergy across international development institutions, public financiers, and local enterprises. Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) provided 80% of the project installation cost through capital grant financing sourced from Germany’s KfW Development Bank.

As Bangladesh targets generating 20% of its electricity from clean energy sources by 2030, the scientific data, crop yield metrics, and operational insights gathered from the Chuadanga demonstration site will directly inform national policy frameworks.

The GET-PAP project is part of the Team Europe Initiative in Bangladesh, that pools over 3.7 billion euro from the European Union, member states, and financial partners to help the country build a green and resilient economy.