Media Coverage


SMART-SIP+ Project Leads Participate in UKRI Ayrton Challenge Launch in London


London, March 4, 2025 —
Professor Lynsey Melville, Project Lead, and the International Project Co-lead of SMART-SIP+—a flagship initiative on solar irrigation in Bangladesh—participated in the official UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Ayrton Challenge Launch event, held at Westminster London, Curio Collection by Hilton.

The day-long event brought together all awardees of the prestigious Ayrton Challenge Fund, showcasing 13 innovative research projects aimed at enabling a low-carbon energy transition in developing countries. These projects span critical themes such as low-carbon energy supply, super-efficient demand, and smart energy delivery systems.

SMART-SIP+ (Scalable Market-Oriented Adaptive Rural Technologies through Solar Irrigation Pumps+) was recognized for its pioneering work in leveraging excess solar energy from irrigation pumps to support rural services like cold storage, micro-enterprises, and water purification—particularly with an emphasis on gender-inclusive development.

The launch provided a valuable platform for knowledge exchange, cross-collaboration, and visibility of UKRI’s global climate innovation portfolio.

To learn more about all thirteen funded projects under the Ayrton Challenge Programme, visit: Projects funded to propel low-carbon energy transition – UKRI


BAU Team Assesses BADC Solar Irrigation Sites for SMART-SIP+ Demonstration


Mymensingh, February 26, 2025 —
A team from Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) conducted a field visit to two Solar Irrigation Pump (SIP) sites operated by the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) to evaluate their potential as demonstration locations for the SMART-SIP+ project.

One of the sites includes an 11 kW solar pump with a 17.2 kW solar panel array under a Low Lift Pump (LLP) scheme, capable of delivering 1 cusec of water. The team observed that the system is currently used for only three months per year during the irrigation season, remaining idle for the rest of the year.

This underutilization presents a key opportunity for SMART-SIP+ to explore productive uses of excess solar energy—such as powering cold storage or rural enterprises—as part of its broader mission to develop sustainable and inclusive rural microgrids.




SMART-SIP+ Workshop Highlights Surplus Solar Energy Utilization and Digital Innovation in Agriculture

Dhaka, Bangladesh Tuesday, 19 May 2026: 
The Annual Workshop on SMART-SIP+: Innovative Approach to Downstream Energy Utilisation from Solar Irrigation Pumps in Bangladesh was held at Lakeshore Grand, Gulshan 2, Dhaka, under the theme “Advancing Sustainable Agriculture through Green Energy and Digital Innovation.”
The workshop brought together academics, policymakers, development partners, researchers, and practitioners to discuss how solar energy and digital technologies can support the future of sustainable agriculture in Bangladesh.
The programme was organised by the Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University. A key focus of the workshop was how surplus electricity generated from solar irrigation pumps (SIPs) can be used beyond irrigation.
Professor Dr. A K Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan, Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University, attended the programme as Chief Guest, while Professor Dr. M. Hammamur Rahman, Director of Bangladesh Agricultural University Research System, attended as Special Chair.
Several distinguished guests also attended the event, including Dr. Dia Sanou, Deputy FAO Representative in Bangladesh; Martin Dawson, Development Counsellor and Deputy Development Director at the British High Commission Dhaka; Md Yousof Ali, Additional Secretary, Member Director (Irrigation) of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation; and Professor Dr. Md. Abdul Mojid, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh Agricultural University.
The inaugural session began with a welcome address by Professor Dr. Chayan Kumar Saha, In-Country Lead of the SMART-SIP+ project. Professor Dr. Lynsey Melville, Project Lead from Birmingham City University, UK, delivered the keynote presentation, where she highlighted the project’s vision for better use of solar irrigation energy and innovation-led agricultural development.
The day-long workshop included three major sessions: the Inaugural Session, the Technical Session on SMART-SIP+ Hubs and Digital Innovation, and the Business and Policy Session. A Poster Presentation Session was open to audience.
During the technical session, updates were presented from SMART-SIP+ intervention areas, including BAU and Bhaluka in Mymensingh, Dinajpur, and Chuadanga. Special emphasis was given to Digital Twin technology and Decision Support Systems, which can help in better planning, monitoring, and management of solar irrigation systems and surplus energy use.
The workshop highlighted the importance of combining renewable energy, digital technology, business models, and policy support to build a more sustainable and productive agricultural future for Bangladesh. Link 1 Link 2