In Kurigram’s Roumari upazila, local businessman Md Saidur Rahman installed a solar panel system at his home, enabling him to run three ceiling fans and eight lights even during load shedding.
“It means we do not have to sit in the dark anymore,” he said.
He decided to invest around Tk40,000 after repeated outages began to affect his family’s routine, particularly during the intense summer heat when electricity cuts become more frequent.
Bangladesh’s growing reliance on imported fuel for power generation has made the country vulnerable to global energy disruptions. Ongoing tensions in the Middle East have strained international energy supplies, contributing to increased load shedding, especially in rural areas.
As frequent power cuts disrupt daily life, more households are turning to solar power as a backup or primary energy source, seeing it as a reliable and cost-effective alternative.
In Manikganj’s Ghior upazila, agricultural entrepreneur Delowar Jahan has set up a self-sufficient farm powered entirely by solar energy in Baliakhora union’s Kautia village.
Given the unreliable electricity supply in his area, he said installing solar panels was “a timely decision”.
His system, which cost around Tk80,000, now supports essential farm operations, including two water pumps, seven fans and about ten lights.
Hybrid solar systems gain traction
The system, popularly known as a “hybrid setup”, differs significantly from the solar solutions used a decade ago.
Unlike earlier systems, it no longer requires separate electrical appliances dedicated to solar power. Instead, an inverter charges an IPS battery, which is then connected to the main switch, allowing the stored power to run household devices for several hours.
This means lights and fans can continue to operate even during prolonged outages.
Users can also install automatic timers, enabling the system to switch off in the morning and restart automatically around 5pm.
Vendors say the systems can now power a wide range of household appliances beyond air conditioners, including refrigerators, televisions, washing machines, geysers, room heaters and even water pumps.
They claim that a setup using ten 580-watt panels, with a total capacity of 5,800 watts, can run up to a 1.5-tonne air conditioner.
Such systems typically use a lithium iron phosphate battery rated at 24 volts and 200 ampere-hours, which can supply around 5 kilowatts of load when fully charged.
Md Ripon Ali, owner of Solar Power Energy, a shop in Dhaka’s Nawabpur, said the configurations are widely marketed as “hybrid setups”.
He said a 1,500-watt hybrid setup can power a refrigerator, five ceiling fans, ten lights, a television and a Wi-Fi router. The full package costs around Tk65,000.
A larger 4-kilowatt system can run a 1.5-tonne air conditioner, a water pump, a refrigerator, eight ceiling fans, ten lights, a television and a Wi-Fi router simultaneously, priced at about Tk155,000.
Another package, capable of running a motor, a refrigerator, a television, a Wi-Fi router, seven ceiling fans and ten lights, is priced at around Tk135,000.
Solar systems are now widely available across Dhaka, with numerous shops in Nawabpur, Kaptan Bazar, Sundarban Square Market and Gulistan’s Stadium Market offering a range of setups.
On Monday, a visit to these markets showed a surge in demand, with crowds of customers thronging shops and sellers struggling to keep up.
There is also considerable variation in smaller-scale hybrid systems. Panels rated at 50, 100 and 200 watts, typically operating on 12 volts, are configured in series and parallel connections to meet different energy needs.
In some cases, a 2-kilowatt inverter and a 220 ampere-hour long-run battery from Sako brand are used, providing what sellers describe as a mid-range solution for moderate loads.
Vendors say the batteries used in these IPS-backed systems often come with warranties ranging from 12 to 15 years, depending on the manufacturer. While installation costs can be relatively high, maintenance expenses are minimal.
Even so, most users are not disconnecting from the national grid.
Without sunlight during storms or prolonged cloudy conditions, the systems cannot generate power. However, as solar meets a significant share of daily demand, users say their electricity bills are noticeably lower.
Practical solution amid power cuts
Highlighting the growing role of solar power amid the electricity crunch, Professor Md Ziaur Rahman Khan, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Buet, told TIMES of Bangladesh that, despite higher upfront costs, the systems are practical for regular use.
“Even though the cost is slightly higher, it is usable,” he said.
However, he cautioned against treating solar as a primary power source, saying it is still more viable as a backup.
“Solar is still more reasonable as a backup,” he added.
He also pointed to Pakistan, where a sharp rise in grid electricity prices has prompted many households to switch rapidly to solar power.
The professor urged the government to set clear quality standards for solar products.
“There are many low-quality products in the market. There is no specific certification system in Bangladesh for these systems. Large installations require some approvals, but for smaller setups, that has not yet been introduced,” he said.
Without timely regulation, he warned, an influx of substandard products could flood the market and undermine the sector in the long run.
Capacity rises, still small share of total power
Bangladesh’s solar energy sector is expanding steadily, though concerns persist over its long-term viability and ability to complement the national grid.
In the 2025–26 fiscal year, Bangladesh’s total installed power generation capacity exceeds 28,616.5 megawatts, of which around 1,314.7 megawatts, or roughly 4.6 per cent, comes from renewable sources. Solar power accounts for about 1,265 megawatts, representing nearly 81 per cent of renewable energy generation.
Policy and environmental arguments for scaling up solar energy are also gaining momentum.
At a recent press conference, ISDE Bangladesh and Paribesh and Protibesh Forum, Chattogram, said rooftop solar alone could generate several thousand megawatts of electricity.
They said wider adoption would help reduce reliance on imported fuel, ease pressure on foreign currency reserves, and expand clean energy use across schools, government buildings and the agricultural sector.
Despite technological progress, key questions remain over the sustainability of such systems and whether they can serve as a viable alternative to the national grid.
Research by Change Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, estimates that Bangladesh will require $32 billion in investment by 2040 to achieve a reliable transition to renewable energy in the power sector.
The study suggests that every dollar invested could yield up to $17 in economic returns.
“Each village needs to move towards off-grid systems,” said Change Initiative Chief Executive M Zakir Hossain Khan.
Energy expert M Tamim stressed the urgency of the transition.
“This must be accelerated,” he said.
“With coordinated planning involving public-private partnerships, along with the power grid and distribution companies, it is possible to add 2,000 to 3,000 megawatts within the next two to three years.”
However, alongside the growing potential, the lack of market regulation remains a major concern, he added.
