Misryoum reports forecasts that Bangladesh solar capacity could rise to 8.5GW by 2035, building on off-grid roots and expanding grid and rooftop systems.
Bangladesh’s electricity story is shifting fast, and solar power is at the center of the change.
Forecasts tracked by Misryoum point to Bangladesh solar PV capacity climbing from about 1.3GW in 2025 to roughly 8.5GW by 2035. The expected rise would also lift the country’s total renewable capacity toward around 9GW by 2035, with solar described as the main engine of incremental growth.
In Misryoum’s overview of the transition, the growth path stands out because it did not start with large utility projects. It began with an off-grid foundation that made solar practical for rural communities before gradually widening into grid-connected development.
That early momentum was shaped by large-scale deployment through Solar Home Systems. which supported rural electrification and helped normalize solar technology locally.. As the grid expands, the market has increasingly turned toward distributed and rooftop solar, particularly across commercial and industrial users.. Policies such as net metering frameworks have helped create a business case for these installations. while some energy-intensive businesses are reportedly adopting solar to manage electricity costs and reduce supply volatility.
A key part of the solar push. according to Misryoum. is also emerging at utility scale. where investment incentives and equipment-related tax relief can improve project economics.. At the same time. Bangladesh’s high population density and limited land availability are nudging innovation in how solar is deployed. including options such as floating solar and solar irrigation. along with models designed to unlock access to land through public-private arrangements.
Insight: This matters because Bangladesh’s solar expansion is not a single-track story. Off-grid experience, grid growth, and practical deployment innovations are all combining to make solar harder to sideline in the country’s energy planning.
While solar is expected to lead, Misryoum reports that the broader generation mix will remain constrained by system-level realities. Thermal power, especially gas-fired generation, is projected to continue playing the dominant role in meeting demand, supporting reliability as renewables scale.
Wind power is also expected to contribute only modestly, with onshore growth described as limited and offshore remaining small.. In the longer term. nuclear generation is also slated to enter the mix as the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant develops. with total nuclear capacity projected to reach about 2.2GW by 2035.
Insight: Even with rapid solar scaling, the overall pace will likely depend on how the power system adapts. Grid planning, dispatch reliability, and the ability to integrate variable renewable generation will determine how quickly solar can translate into dependable electricity across the country.
Meanwhile, Misryoum notes that the next decade is likely to be defined by a gradual but broad-based buildout of solar across multiple segments, supported by policy incentives and growing interest from industrial customers.