For a poultry farmer, a power cut on a hot afternoon is not an inconvenience — it is a loss counted in dead birds. In 2026, farmers across Bangladesh have reported exactly that. Solar is the one power source that is strongest at the hottest time of day.
Updated October 2026 · Written and reviewed by the Frostec Solar Powers engineering team
- In Sylhet (August 2026), farmers reported only 10–12 hours of electricity a day; poultry production fell by at least 10% and egg production by 10–20%.
- In Barishal (May 2026), one farmer lost more than 50 broilers after load shedding, and egg prices rose to Tk 48–50 per hali.
- Fans and ventilation are life-critical in heat — and the hottest hours are also the sunniest.
- A hybrid system keeps fans and lights running during outages; on-grid solar cuts the daily bill.
- Low-interest loans (5–6%) for solar are available through PKSF, IDCOL and BIFFL partners.
What load shedding is costing farmers
- Sylhet, August 2026: many areas received electricity for only 10–12 hours a day. The district livestock officer estimated poultry production fell by at least 10% and egg production by 10–20%. Sylhet division has about 4,490 poultry farms.
- Thin margins: one farmer put broiler production cost at Tk 130–145 per kg against a selling price of about Tk 140 — so any loss wipes out profit.
- Barishal, May 2026: more than 50 broilers died on one farm after load shedding; on another, nearly half the layers stopped laying.
Which loads matter most
| Farm | Critical during outages | Can wait or use another source |
|---|---|---|
| Broiler | Fans and exhaust fans, drinking-water pump, lights | Winter brooding heaters (use gas or biomass, not batteries) |
| Layer | Fans, lighting programme (evening light keeps laying steady), water | Egg-room equipment |
| Dairy | Fans and misters for heat stress, milking machine, milk chiller, water pump | Fodder chopper, other heavy motors |
Heat and sunlight arrive together: the hours when birds are most at risk are the hours when panels produce the most.
Sizing example: a 1,500-bird broiler shed
- Essential load: 10 ceiling fans × 70 W = 700 W, plus 20 LED bulbs × 9 W = 180 W → about 900 W.
- Outage to cover: 4 hours → 900 W × 4 h = 3.6 kWh.
- With inverter losses (≈ 90%): about 4.0 kWh from the battery.
- Battery: a 5 kWh LiFePO4 battery gives about 4.6 kWh usable — enough, with a small reserve.
- Panels: about 3 kW, so the battery refills by day while the fans run directly from the sun. The 0.5 HP water pump can run from solar in daylight.
- Indicative cost: about ৳2.25 lakh at Frostec’s indicative hybrid rate of ৳75 per watt.
Compare that with a diesel generator: diesel now costs ৳135 per litre, and a small generator produces only about 3 units per litre — around ৳45 per unit for fuel alone. Read more in which backup actually works.
Dairy farms: milk cannot wait
Milk must be cooled quickly after milking. A solar system sized for the milking machine, the milk chiller and the shed fans protects milk quality and cow comfort during daytime outages. Farms with biogas plants can combine both: biogas for cooking or a generator, solar for daytime electricity.
Shed roof tips
- Tin (CGI) roofs: use rails fixed to the purlins with sealed fasteners, after checking the shed structure.
- Ammonia and dust corrode metal: use anodised aluminium rails and stainless-steel fasteners, and keep the inverter and battery outside the bird house, in a clean, ventilated room.
- Panels can cool the shed: mounted with an air gap, they shade the roof sheet and reduce heat under it.
- Clean regularly — feed dust and droppings reduce output.
Paying for it
The government’s Tk 1,500 crore solar fund is lent through IDCOL, BIFFL and PKSF — PKSF works with rural partner organisations that already lend to farmers. Rates are capped at about 5–6%. See solar loans. For irrigation as well, see solar pump vs diesel and our Agriculture Solar Pump service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can solar save my poultry from load shedding?
Yes, if it is a hybrid system with a battery. It keeps fans, lights and water pumps running during outages. Because heat and sunshine peak together, solar is strongest exactly when birds are most at risk.
What size solar system does a small poultry farm need?
For a 1,500-bird broiler shed with about 900 W of fans and lights and 4-hour outages, a 3 kW hybrid system with a 5 kWh lithium battery is a typical starting point.
Can solar run poultry brooding heaters?
It is not practical to run electric heaters from batteries. Use gas or biomass for brooding heat, and solar for fans, lights and pumps.
Is solar cheaper than a generator for a farm?
Over time, yes. Diesel at ৳135 per litre costs around ৳45 per unit in a small generator, while solar has no fuel cost and also cuts the daily electricity bill.
Can farmers get a loan for solar?
Yes. The government solar fund is lent through IDCOL, BIFFL and PKSF, whose partner organisations reach rural borrowers, at rates capped around 5–6%.
Protect Your Farm from Power Cuts
Tell us your shed size, fans, lights and outage hours. We will size a system that keeps your birds or cows safe — and show the cost.
Questions? Call or WhatsApp +880 1805-208117 or email info@frostecsolarpowers.com. Figures in this article are indicative and approximate; final values depend on your site survey, design and the manufacturer terms of the equipment supplied.
