Bangladesh has witnessed a substantial transformation in its energy landscape over the past two decades, marked by a rapid rise in the deployment of solar power technologies. Falling photovoltaic (PV) costs, favorable solar irradiance, and targeted institutional support have facilitated the adoption of solar home systems (SHS), rooftop PV installations, solar irrigation pumps, mini-grids, and utility-scale solar parks. As of 2023, grid-connected solar PV capacity reached 459 MW, with a significant portion added in fiscal year 2022–2023. Meanwhile, off-grid solar — especially through SHS — has provided electricity access to millions in rural areas, elevating the role of decentralized energy in national electrification efforts. Yet, despite this growth, solar remains a minor fraction of total installed capacity, and challenges such as land scarcity, grid integration, financing bottlenecks, maintenance shortcomings, and underutilized installations hinder its full potential. Drawing on policy documents, empirical studies, and recent deployment data, this paper provides a comprehensive synthesis of solar technologies in Bangladesh, analyses recent market trends, discusses institutional and regulatory frameworks, identifies key challenges, and offers strategic recommendations to scale up sustainable solar adoption.

Keywords

 Solar energy, photovoltaic (PV), rooftop solar, solar home systems, Bangladesh, renewable energy policy, grid-connected solar, off-grid solar, energy transition.