Renewable energy and Bangladesh RMG industry: an exploration on the rooftop solar adoption of RMG factories in the digital platform of mapped in Bangladesh

Abstract

In response to the knowledge gap on solar adoption in RMG factories in Bangladesh, this study pursues the research question to what extent RMG factories in Bangladesh have adopted renewable energy. The study demonstrates the solar panel adoption of RMG based on the factory data of Dhaka district of the Mapped in Bangladesh (MiB), which is a digital platform to showcase information of export oriented RMG factories in all over Bangladesh in order to enable transparency and accountability in Bangladesh RMG sector. The quantitative analysis of the study identifies several features of solar adoption among RMG factories that include large factories are ahead of other types of RMG factories (micro, small and medium) in terms of using solar panels and factories located in standalone building tend to have greater solar adoption than RMG factories located in shared building. Moreover, it has been found in the study that woven factories have more solar adoption than other type of factories. Understanding the solar adoption of RMG industry through this study can aid the policy makers and stakeholders to rethink the renewable energy related interventions at policy level as well as at the firm level of Bangladesh RMG industry. Furthermore, such study can provide future research directions on issues related to renewable energy and Bangladesh RMG industry.