Agrivoltaics emerges as energy security option

Agrivoltaics, a system that combines agricultural production with solar power generation on the same land, could offer Bangladesh a new pathway toward strengthening food and energy security.

Although the technology remains relatively new and unfamiliar to many farmers and members of the general public in Bangladesh, it has already been implemented successfully in several countries. China, in particular, has developed agrivoltaic projects on a large scale, generating significant amounts of solar electricity while retaining agricultural use of the land.

Speakers made the observations at a seminar titled “The Role of Agrivoltaics in Sustainable Solutions for Food, Energy and Water Security”, organised by the Agricultural Engineering Division of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) in Ramna, Dhaka, on September 3, Thursday.

The seminar was moderated by Engineer Md Belal Siddiqui, secretary of the Agricultural Engineering Division, and chaired by Engineer Golam Mawla, chairman of the division. Engineer Mohammad Golam Mawla, vice chairman of the division, delivered the welcome address.

Engineer Shahrin Islam Tuhin, former parliament member and convener of the Association of Engineers Bangladesh, delivered the keynote address as chief guest.

Special guests included Engineer Hasan Zafir Tuhin, chairman of the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) and president of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal; Engineer Khan Manzur Morshed, vice-president (Academic and International) of IEB; Engineer Shoeb Bashri Hablu, member-secretary of the Association of Engineers Bangladesh (AEB); and Engineer Shahadat Hossain Biplob, member-secretary of the Agriculturists Association of Bangladesh (AAB) and joint secretary of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal.

The keynote paper was presented by Engineer Md Shamim Ahmed, PhD, associate professor at the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis, United States.

Crops and electricity from same land

Speakers said agrivoltaics could be particularly relevant to Bangladesh because it allows agricultural land to serve two purposes simultaneously—crop production and solar electricity generation.

Solar panels can be installed above or alongside agricultural production, allowing farming activities to continue while electricity is generated.

The approach could also help reduce irrigation-related electricity costs, water consumption and overall agricultural expenditure, speakers said.

They pointed to successful applications of the technology in several countries, particularly large-scale projects in China that combine solar power generation with continued agricultural use.

Pilot project proposed in Barind

Speakers proposed initially implementing agrivoltaic pilot projects in areas under the BMDA’s irrigation schemes and other relevant agricultural and energy institutions.

A pilot project would allow authorities and researchers to evaluate crop production, solar electricity generation, irrigation costs, water consumption and the broader economic and environmental benefits of the system under Bangladeshi conditions.

If successful, the pilot could encourage farmers, entrepreneurs and the private sector to adopt the technology and eventually facilitate its expansion to different parts of the country.

Integrated food and energy solution

Speakers said Bangladesh faces the dual challenge of protecting agricultural land while expanding renewable energy generation.

Agrivoltaics could help address this challenge by allowing solar power generation without completely taking productive agricultural land out of farming.

The approach could therefore contribute simultaneously to food security and energy security while improving the efficiency of water use and potentially reducing irrigation costs.

Call for rapid implementation

Speakers expressed hope that the government would take effective and practical measures to address the country’s energy crisis and strengthen energy security.

They also called for long-term policies to expand the use of renewable and alternative energy sources.

According to the speakers, the keynote paper presented at the seminar addressed an issue of significant importance in Bangladesh’s current context.

They stressed that the proposed technology should not remain limited to discussions and research. Instead, pilot projects should be launched quickly to test the technology and ideas presented by the paper’s author.

The results of such pilot projects could then be used to assess the economic, agricultural and environmental viability of agrivoltaics and develop a pathway for wider national adoption.
//DBTech/SIIB/SME/MIS//