Image: World Bank, Flickr
Bangladesh’s PV capacity is expected to grow from about 1.3 GW in 2025 to about 8.5 GW in 2035, according to GlobalData, with cumulative renewable capacity expected to reach about 9 GW over the same period.
Mohammed Ziauddin, energy analyst at GlobalData, said solar energy is expected to remain the main driver of renewable energy expansion in Bangladesh, supported by its scalability and suitability under local conditions, although overall renewable energy growth is expected to remain gradual, due to structural and system-level constraints.
Bangladesh’s solar sector has grown from an off-grid foundation built around the Solar Home System program, implemented through Infrastructure Development Co. Ltd., using microfinance networks and private sector participation to achieve rural electrification. Growth is now increasingly driven by rooftop solar in commercial and industrial segments, supported by net metering systems, in addition to utility development supported by tax exemptions, import duty exemptions and value-added tax credits on solar equipment.
Ziauddin said high population density and limited land availability are driving innovation in deployment models, including floating solar, solar irrigation systems and public-private partnership frameworks for access to government-owned land.
Thermal energy is expected to remain dominant. Gas-fired capacity is expected to grow from approximately 15.3 GW in 2025 to approximately 20.1 GW in 2035, while coal capacity is expected to be approximately 7.7 GW. The Rooppur nuclear power plant is expected to contribute about 2.2 GW of nuclear capacity by 2035.
Bangladesh has accelerated its purchasing of solar energy in recent months. The country’s electricity utility signed power purchase agreements for 523 MW of solar capacity in January 2026 and launched tenders for 77.6 MW of PV in April 2026. A tender launched in March 2025 for 2.65 GW of solar energy represents the largest tender round to date.
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