The study entailed comparing agrivoltaics (growing crops under solar panels) to existing energy sources, namely: coal, oil, gas under fossil fuel and nuclear, hydropower, wind, and solar under renewable sources. The comparison is made along key aspects of power generation for Bangladesh: cost, emissions, land, and employment. The study examines the direct impacts along these aspects, as well as upstream economy-wide impact using an input-output model for land and employment. Under employment, it further looks at the number of total jobs, skill level, and gender disaggregation of yearly jobs generated, as well as the total yearly wage under the different sources of power generation. The methodology used encapsulates key considerations within the food–energy–environment nexus and provides policymakers with a framework that presents the implications of energy choices. The study results using this methodology further show that the transition to renewable energy could also accommodate those who stand to lose the most in large-scale transitions. The expansion of work opportunities for women, as well as low and middle-skill workers through agrivoltaic expansion, is a crucial factor within the just transitions framework.
Authors: Kamal, Rohini and Azam, Mohammad Tofail Bin
Type: Working Paper
Publisher: International Growth Centre
Year: 2024
