Bangladesh Square solar integrated machine for home use

Are solar home systems generating more electricity in Bangladesh?

In Bangladesh, many of the Solar Home Systems (SHS) previously installed are generating more electricity than the households consume or can store because of modification of the system design and introduction of more energy efficient light and appliances.

Does Bangladesh have a solar home system?

Even one decade ago, only 45% of the Bangladeshi population had permanent access to electricity. In a very short leap of time, this figure has increased to 92 %. Out of that, 13% is credible to the installation of Solar Home System. SHS installed by Grameen Shakti accounts for 6% in access to electricity of the country.

Why did Bangladesh start a solar home system?

Rather than waiting for communities to connect to the national grid, the Bangladesh government began the Solar Home System (SHS) program, under the leadership of Infrastructure Development Company Ltd. (IDCOL), to mobilize the private and non-governmental sectors to find ways to rapidly bring clean electricity services to the people.

Why are solar home systems so expensive in Bangladesh?

Current solar home systems are limited in capacity and continue to remain prohibitively expensive for a large portion of the 65 million people who do not have access to the grid in Bangladesh. As a result, they rely on costly and unhealthy alternatives like diesel generators and kerosene lamps.

Are Solar Homes a viable option for off-grid households in Bangladesh?

Of the off-grid population, the vast majority is concentrated in rural Bangladesh where the electrification rate dips to 28%. Individual solar home systems are limited by their initial capacity and cannot serve more or any larger electricity consuming devices.

What is a solar home system (SHS)?

The World Bank, along with other development partners, financed a Solar Home System (SHS) program, to support a partnership between the public sector and the private sector to build a thriving off-grid solar market. By 2018, the SHS program had sold over 4.1 million units, bringing electricity services to about 20 million people in Bangladesh.