The Potential of Agrophotovoltaics in Sustainable Energy Generation: A Case Study in Bangladesh

Bangladesh, with its extensive agricultural landscape, faces considerable energy shortages. Adopting a dual-use strategy for agricultural land, which combines solar technology for energy generation and agricultural practices, could be highly advantageous in the future. To this end, this paper proposes a systematic approach to evaluate the feasibility of APV through proper modeling, design and analysis in a fertile land. The proposed methodology focuses on Naogaon in Bangladesh's Rajshahi division, assessing the viability of Agrophotovoltaic (APV) systems. AquaCrop is used for crop yield analysis, and HelioScope for solar plant design and power generation. Results show the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) for the APV system to be economically favorable at $0.0358, with an annual electricity output of 57.33 MWh. Furthermore, the APV system enables agricultural productivity, yielding 3.73 tons of crops per hectare. Environmental benefits are substantial, including a 30-ton annual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The study also calculates a significant Social Cost of Carbon (SCC) at $45,750, demonstrating the system's effectiveness in carbon emission reduction. This research offers a critical framework for future APV system implementations, especially in countries where agriculture is a key economic and environmental element, representing an important stride towards sustainable and renewable energy solutions.