FEATURE: Bangladesh tests solar panels over rice crops for food and power

MANIKGANJ, Bangladesh – In a rice field in central Bangladesh, farm worker Dilip Kumar Biswas tends crops growing under the shade of solar panels, part of an experiment exploring whether one of the world’s most densely populated countries can produce both food and clean energy on the same land.

Bangladesh, home to 175 million people, relies on imports for about 95% of its energy, a dependence worsened by rising global fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict. To diversify its energy supply, the country is increasingly turning to renewable sources.

Solar power is the largest renewable energy source in Bangladesh, yet it contributes only about 4.5% of total electricity generation. Installing solar panels has been challenging: rooftop space is limited, and ground-mounted systems compete with land needed 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 group.

Researchers are now exploring “agrivoltaics,” a method where crops and livestock share space with solar panels.

This year, the Bangladeshi development organization BRAC and the Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) launched a project in Manikganj, about 50 km west of Dhaka, to mount solar panels above farmland. The project is funded by the H&M Foundation, linked to the Swedish clothing brand H&M.

Shade Benefits Workers and Crops

Unlike India and Pakistan, which have built large solar parks in arid regions, Bangladesh has very little non-agricultural land. Past proposals for solar parks were canceled due to concerns over land loss and livelihoods.

At Manikganj, solar panels are mounted more than 2 meters above the ground, allowing sunlight to filter through to crops below. Researchers collect data on rainfall, wind, and other microclimate conditions, comparing yields with nearby control plots to identify optimal panel height, spacing, and crop combinations.

Farmers are paid roughly $7 per day to grow rice, coriander, pumpkins, bottle gourds, and onions. “The shade helps preserve soil moisture while keeping it comfortable for workers during hot summer days,” said Biswas.

Shade-tolerant vegetables such as ginger and turmeric have performed well in agrivoltaic trials in Manikganj and in Chuadanga, run by the German development agency GIZ and the Wave Foundation. Poultry and goats have also been reared under solar panels in Chuadanga.

However, rice, the country’s staple crop, requires ample sunlight. The current project focuses on determining how rice can thrive under solar panels, said BIGD assistant professor Rohini Kamal. Flood-tolerant rice varieties are needed in low-lying areas like Manikganj, while the solar structures must withstand strong storms.

Economic Viability

Agrivoltaic systems generally cost more to install than conventional ground-mounted solar, but combined revenue from crops and electricity can shorten the payback period. A 2024 pilot study in Chuadanga estimated that this dual-income model could reduce payback from five to six years to about three years under favorable conditions.

Panel height and spacing affect both costs and crop yield. Lower, closely spaced panels are cheaper but cast more shade, while higher, widely spaced panels cost more but allow sun-loving crops like rice to grow, explained agronomist Mehedi Hasan Bappy. Early results for rice yield are promising, though more data across multiple crop cycles are needed.

Workers receive daily wages, and electricity generated is used to irrigate nearby farmland. Once connected to the national grid, surplus electricity could be sold, but current regulations would need to change to allow farmers and operators to earn directly from their panels.

Dipal Chandra Barua, chairman of the Bright Green Energy Foundation, emphasized that agreements should clearly define land lease terms, payment, and profit-sharing to ensure local communities benefit.

Researchers await the first full harvest to determine whether the agrivoltaic model lives up to its potential. If successful, Kamal said, the next challenge will be scaling up while fairly sharing benefits among solar companies, farmers, landowners, and workers.

-Reporting by Md. Tahmid Zami; Editing by Jon Hemming. The Thomson Reuters Foundation is the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters