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Bangladesh on Wednesday launched its first structured Agrivoltaics Pilot Project alongside the establishment of the national working group on agrivoltaics and floating solar, marking an important step in promoting innovative renewable energy solutions that make efficient use of 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 under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, and the Green Energy Transition-Policy Advisory Partnership (GET-PAP) project, implemented by GIZ Bangladesh.
GET-PAP is co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
"We are not just inaugurating a new facility; we are laying the foundation for future generations to thrive. By harnessing the sun not only to grow crops but also to generate clean electricity, we are addressing two of the most pressing challenges of our time - food security for a growing population and accelerating the transition to renewable energy," said Nur Ahmed, additional secretary of the Power Division, in his remarks as the chief guest at the event.
The pilot project aims to assess the technical, agricultural, and economic feasibility of agrivoltaic systems in Bangladesh, and help identify pathways to scale up renewable energy within the framework of the Renewable Energy Policy 2025, which targets 30 per cent renewable energy in the power mix by 2040.
"Bangladesh is an example in the area of climate adaptation. You have a lot of technologies and expertise that you are sharing," said Edwin Koekkoek, team leader of the Green Inclusive Development Section of the Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh. "We want to contribute to better connecting Europe and Bangladesh in the area of green energy transition."
During the technical sessions, representatives from GIZ, Fraunhofer ISE, and IDCOL presented findings on system design, agricultural analysis, and investment considerations.
Participants also discussed lessons from regional experiences, including insights from the Indian Agrivoltaics Alliance.
The event also marked the official launch of the National Working Group on Agrivoltaics and Floating Solar, a multi-stakeholder platform designed to support policy coordination, knowledge exchange, and joint action.
The group will bring together government agencies, the private sector, researchers, and development partners to advance sustainable and multipurpose land-use models in Bangladesh.
The workshop concluded with a commitment from all stakeholders to continue collaboration in developing robust regulatory frameworks, technical standards, and investment models that will support the wider adoption of agrivoltaics and floating solar technologies in Bangladesh.
Senior representatives from the government, development partners, research institutions, private sector organisations, and academia attended the event.
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