Project Overview

Energy shortages in Bangladesh’s agriculture sector limit crop production and intensify post-harvest losses due to inadequate and unaffordable power for processing and storage. Nearly six million diesel-powered irrigation pumps consume about 1.4 million tons of imported diesel each year, accounting for roughly 4% of national greenhouse gas emissions. Transitioning to solar irrigation pumps (SIPs) offers a transformative pathway to strengthen energy security, reduce emissions, and advance sustainable farming, though their potential remains largely underutilized.
The lack of reliable energy also constrains cold chain development, causing 25–40% post-harvest losses in fruits and vegetables. The SMART-SIP+ project addresses these challenges by developing intelligent, data-driven energy systems that utilize surplus electricity from SIPs to power cold storage, drying, milling, and food processing facilities. This integration of clean energy with food systems reduces losses, extends shelf-life, and creates new income opportunities, particularly for women farmers engaged in post-harvest activities.

Funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)Ayrton Fund, the initiative is led by Birmingham City University (BCU) in partnership with Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), the Bright GreenEnergy Foundation (BGEF), and Water and Sanitation for the Urban Population(WSUP). By linking green energy innovation with agricultural productivity, SMART-SIP+ supports progress toward key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), and Climate Action (SDG 13)—advancing Bangladesh’s transition toward clean energy, climate resilience, and food security.

Approach/Methodology

The project has five interconnected Work Packages (WPs) aimed at jointly fulfilling its objectives. The project aims to collaboratively establish an extensive knowledge base that involves both national supply and demand-side stakeholders. The SMART SIP+ decision support system will be designed to comprehensively address the technical, economic, and societal challenges associated with adopting Smart-SIP+ by creating a data-driven knowledge base and online tools for stakeholder support.

This project is going to establish a central research and testing facility alongside four satellite demonstration sites operating under a 'hub-and-spoke' model. The central hub performs intensive research and testing to assess Smart-SIP+ integration scenarios, producing insights that inform and enhance field demonstrations and validations at the satellite locations. These venues additionally facilitate stakeholder open days, workshops, and training sessions to enhance data collecting, education, and capacity building.

Ultimately, a stakeholder engagement and participation platform that informs all other work packages and guarantees project outcomes are converted into tangible real-world impacts. This platform facilitates reciprocal knowledge exchange between the project team and stakeholders, especially local communities, ensuring that end users are integral to the co-creation, design, and implementation of future Smart-SIP+ solutions.The project has five interconnected Work Packages (WPs) aimed at jointly fulfilling its objectives. The project aims to collaboratively establish an extensive knowledge base that involves both national supply and demand-side stakeholders. The SMART SIP+ decision support system will be designed to comprehensively address the technical, economic, and societal challenges associated with adopting Smart-SIP+ by creating a data-driven knowledge base and online tools for stakeholder support.