The widespread adoption of solar home systems (SHSs) in Bangladesh, which once illuminated millions of rural households, is now declining as the expansion of the national grid provides electricity to more areas. Over the last two years, the proportion of the population using SHSs has decreased, indicating a slowdown in the growth of solar energy adoption.
Data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) shows that the percentage of the population using SHSs dropped from 2.25 % in 2021 to 1.81 % in 2023. This decline suggests that SHSs are no longer expanding as they did between 2003 and 2013.
While SHSs may still be relevant in geographically remote locations that are difficult to connect to the grid, their overall growth trajectory has stagnated. Additionally, many of the SHSs installed nearly two decades ago are reaching the end of their lifespan, further limiting their appeal.