Picture an island in Bangladesh that is so remote that there is no way the traditional electricity could reach it. Not now, and probably not anytime soon. That was the situation in Monpura just a few years ago – but not today.

Today, Monpura is thriving, thanks to solar power. Markets are abuzz, households can power TVs, fans and even refrigerators, and streets are lit up at night. In fact, solar home systems have helped take electricity to more than 20 million people in rural Bangladesh.

The off-grid solar market, quite simply, has changed lives. Only a decade ago, just a handful of solar products existed that were of verified quality, and of these, most could only provide limited lighting. While the prices for these products have dropped dramatically, a wide range of modern products of reliable quality have also flooded the market and are now available across the world…..more