The UK government says about 3.3 million solar home systems in Bangladesh have been supported so far through its Carbon Initiative for Development, known as Ci-Dev. The program is part of the UK's International Climate Finance.
The systems serve rural and off-grid communities. The UK government says Bangladesh's Solar Home System program has brought electricity to millions of people beyond the national grid for more than a decade. It says households have used the systems to move away from diesel and kerosene, and that the systems have helped them deal with frequent power cuts and cut their energy bills.
How Ci-Dev works
Ci-Dev helps clean energy projects earn income by selling carbon credits. The UK government describes a carbon credit as a representation of a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. It says this income helps projects attract investment, stay financially viable and keep supplying electricity over the longer term.
Results across all countries
The UK government gives program-wide totals, not Bangladesh-only figures:
| Measure | Result to date |
|---|---|
| People with improved access to clean energy | More than 10 million |
| Clean energy capacity installed | More than 340 megawatts |
| Greenhouse gas emissions reduced | More than 1 million tonnes |
The UK government puts the emissions reduction at the equivalent of 4% of London's total emissions for a year.
It also says the UK is helping countries such as Bangladesh build the capability and systems to reach new sources of finance through carbon markets.
