Bangladesh’s garment factories will get access to a local technology that can convert conventional ceiling fans into energy-efficient brushless direct current (BLDC) fans, with trials showing potential electricity savings of up to 65 per cent.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Industrial Development and Engineering Company (BIDEC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote the technology among BGMEA member factories as the export sector looks to reduce energy costs and improve sustainability.
Under the partnership, BGMEA will connect its member factories with BIDEC’s patented fan upcycling technology. Factories will receive the upgraded fans at special prices, with the technology backed by a five-year guarantee.
BGMEA said trials conducted across more than 42 factories over the past several months showed efficiency improvements of around 47 per cent to 65 per cent, depending on fan type and factory conditions. Based on expected electricity savings, factories could recover the investment within around 1.5 to 2 years.
The initiative comes as garment manufacturers face increasing pressure to reduce production costs while meeting global buyers’ growing sustainability requirements.
Traditional ceiling fans use capacitor-based motors, while BLDC fans use electronically controlled motors that consume less electricity for similar performance.
BIDEC’s technology upgrades existing fans rather than requiring factories to replace them completely, reducing both investment needs and equipment waste.
BGMEA Vice President Vidiya Amrit Khan said the results from factory trials showed how local innovation could help address industrial challenges.
“This initiative is a strong example of how local innovation and young entrepreneurship can respond to real industrial challenges,” she said.
BGMEA Director Shah Rayeed Chowdhury said energy efficiency has become a competitiveness issue for manufacturers, not only an environmental concern.
“If a practical local technology can deliver 50 per cent or more efficiency improvement, and a potential 1.5 to 2-year payback, it becomes a very relevant solution for our members,” he said.
The agreement was signed at BGMEA’s Dhaka office by Vidiya Amrit Khan and BIDEC Chief Executive Officer Kazi Mohammad Ibrahim.
The two organisations said wider adoption of the technology could help factories reduce operating expenses, lower electricity demand and support Bangladesh’s broader transition towards resource-efficient industrial production.
