solar home systems have been installed in rural Bangladesh, creating 75,000 direct jobs. This is one of the fastest growing renewable energy programs in the world.

of its national grid to be powered by renewable energy by 2020 - goal of Bangladesh's solar program. Currently, renewable energy accounts for less than 1 percent of the country’s energy generation.

or so rural households still live without power. Even those connected to the grid experience black-outs during peak hours because electricity supply can’t keep up with demand.

system has become a reliable and increasingly financially viable solution for many Bangladeshis, It costs about US$150 which is paid by the users over three years and provides enough electricity to power two lights and one mobile charger.

Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (IDCOL) started the Solar Home System (SHS) program in this year to ensure access to clean electricity for the energy starved off-grid rural areas of Bangladesh.

organizations that have provided credit and grant support to the program: Initial credit and grant support from the World Bank and GEF to start the program. Later, GIZ, KfW, ADB, IDB, GPOBA, JICA, USAID and DFID came forward with additional financial support for expansion.

SHSs to be installed by 2017. The total generation capacity at that point would be an estimated 220 MW.