This research investigates the complex intersections of renewable energy expansion, land use, and gendered livelihoods in Bangladesh. As the nation strives to meet ambitious renewable energy targets amidst acute land scarcity, utility-scale solar projects are increasingly competing with productive agricultural landscapes. This study employs a comparative mixed-methods approach to examine how different solar development models, ranging from conventional “pure solar” to innovative “agrivoltaics”, reshape rural economies, labor participation, and household bargaining power. By documenting the socio-economic and environmental consequences of energy displacement, the project seeks to assess whether a transition toward renewable energy can be socially inclusive and “just” for women and marginalized farming communities.
Researchers: Dr. Rohini Kamal; Dr. Munshi Sulaiman; Tasin Rashid; Mohammad Shadid Hossain and Riana Islam
Visiting Researcher: Anushree Chaudhuri
Partner: FCDO
Timeline: 2026–2028
Status: Ongoing
Contact: Dr. Rohini Kamal; rohini.kamal@bracu.ac.bd
Context
Bangladesh confronts a complex “trilemma” of lagging behind its renewable energy expansion targets, sustaining economic growth amidst recurring energy fuel shortages, and preserving food security in a densely populated, land-scarce country. National plans aim to raise renewables to 40% of total energy by 2041, yet utility-scale solar parks are highly land-intensive, typically requiring 3.5–4.0 acres per megawatt. This creates regulatory tension, as national frameworks generally discourage using agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes.
Independent verification through satellite mapping is critical to resolving these tensions, where official land classifications may diverge from the actual productive use of the site. In an agrarian economy where agriculture accounts for roughly 45.4% of employment, converting cultivable land to “pure solar” generation can disrupt farm-based livelihoods and intensify land conflicts. These risks are deeply gendered: women comprise more than half of the agricultural workforce, but their work is frequently under-recognized, and they often have weaker formal claims to property. This study compares two divergent models: “pure solar,” where energy generation displaces agriculture, and “agrivoltaics,” where solar generation is combined with continued production on the same land.
Objective
The purpose of this project is to compare how pure solar and agrivoltaics affect women’s livelihoods and household bargaining power in communities experiencing renewable energy expansion.
Specific objectives include:
- Identify key drivers of women’s labor participation and work choices.
- Compare women’s paid and unpaid agricultural work and paid non-agricultural work in terms of earnings, working conditions, control over income, and access to credit/assets.
- Assess impacts on time use, income security, mobility, and decision-making (including fertility/family planning where relevant).
- Document land-use change and conflict, utilizing GIS and satellite imagery to assess the accuracy of land classifications and the subsequent gendered impacts on displacement and compensation.
- Examine how energy access and reliability intersect with women’s work and care burdens.
Methodology
The study utilizes a comparative mixed-methods design (qualitative and quantitative) implemented in three distinct stages:
- Initial Qualitative and Community Mapping: Key informant interviews (KIIs) and transect walks are conducted to understand local livelihoods, land use, and community perceptions. Observations focus on gendered work roles and participation in decision-making.
- Women-Focused Qualitative Work: Separate focus group discussions (FGDs) are held with women across different work categories, paid agricultural, paid non-agricultural, and unpaid domestic/care work, to understand time use and mobility constraints.
- Household Survey: A structured survey measuring household characteristics and women’s earnings is administered to approximately 800 households, utilizing the Abbreviated Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (A-WEAI).
- Secondary and GIS Analysis: The research integrates HIES data to construct socio-economic profiles and advanced satellite-based land use/land cover (LULC) change analysis to independently verify pre- and post-construction land changes.
Findings and Recommendations
Forthcoming.
