EU, Germany, Bangladesh launch agrivoltaics pilot project
"We are not just inaugurating a new facility; we are laying the foundation for future generations to thrive," said Nur Ahmed, additional secretary of the Power Division
Bangladesh today (19 November) launched its first structured agrivoltaics pilot project and the National Working Group on Agrivoltaics and Floating Solar, marking a major step toward innovative renewable energy solutions that maximise limited land resources.
The event, titled "Sun, Soil, and Sustainability: Kick-off of Agrivoltaics Pilot and National Working Group," was jointly organised by the Power Division and the Green Energy Transition–Policy Advisory Partnership (GET-PAP), which is implemented by GIZ Bangladesh, and held at a city hotel in the capital.
The GET-PAP project is co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
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Speaking as the chief guest, Nur Ahmed, additional secretary of the Power Division, emphasised the transformative potential of agrivoltaics.
"We are not just inaugurating a new facility; we are laying the foundation for future generations to thrive. By harnessing the sun to grow crops and generate clean electricity, we address two pressing challenges, food security and the renewable energy transition."
The pilot initiative aims to assess the technical, agricultural and economic feasibility of agrivoltaic systems in Bangladesh and identify scalable pathways aligned with the Renewable Energy Policy 2025, which targets 30% renewable energy in the national power mix by 2040.
Highlighting Bangladesh's leadership in climate adaptation, Edwin Koekkoek, team leader of the Green Inclusive Development Section at the Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, said: "Bangladesh is an example in climate adaptation. We want to help strengthen connections between Europe and Bangladesh in the green energy transition."
The technical sessions featured presentations from GIZ, Fraunhofer ISE and IDCOL on system design, agricultural impacts and investment considerations. Participants also drew lessons from regional experiences, including insights from the Indian Agrivoltaics Alliance.
The launch of the National Working Group on Agrivoltaics and Floating Solar established a multi-stakeholder platform to support policy coordination, knowledge exchange and joint action.
The group brings together government, private sector, academia, researchers and development partners to promote sustainable, multipurpose land use models.
The workshop concluded with a collective commitment to developing robust regulatory frameworks, technical standards and investment models to advance agrivoltaics and floating solar adoption across Bangladesh.
