Kumar, GeetaSadeque, Zubair2013-10-162013-10-162012-04https://hdl.handle.net/10986/16177A renewable energy program in Bangladesh that brings solar power to rural households is one of the most successful solar home system (SHS) programs in the world. It has demonstrated an inexpensive and reliable way to bring electricity to rural households. Several output-based aid (OBA) features have contributed to the success. Notably, the subsidy payment makes the installation of a working solar home system affordable to poorer households, and is combined with longer-term consumer credit. This note explores the distinctive features and results of the program and draws lessons for future projects.en-USCC BY 3.0 IGOACCESS TO ELECTRICITYACCESS TO FINANCEACCESS TO GRID ELECTRICITYAFFORDABILITYAPPROACHBARRIERBENEFICIARIESBUSINESSESCALL CENTERCDCOLLECTION EFFICIENCYCONSUMER CREDITCORRUPTIONCOST OF FUNDSCREDIBILITYCREDIT SALESCREDIT SUPPORTDEBTSDEVELOPING COUNTRIESDEVELOPMENT BANKDEVELOPMENT COMPANYDONOR SUPPORTDOWN PAYMENTDUE DILIGENCEELECTRICITYELECTRICITY GENERATIONELECTRICITY GENERATION CAPACITYELIGIBILITY CRITERIAEQUIPMENTEXCHANGE RATEGOVERNMENT BUDGETGRACE PERIODGRID CONNECTIONSGRID ELECTRIFICATIONGRID EXPANSIONHOUSEHOLDSHUSBANDIMPLEMENTING AGENCYINCOMEINFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENTINFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTSINNOVATIONSINSPECTIONINSTALLATIONINSTALLATIONSINSTALLMENTSINSTITUTIONINTEREST RATEINTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTKEROSENELIQUIDITYLOANLOAN AMOUNTLOCAL BUSINESSESLOW-INCOME COUNTRIESMARKET DISTORTIONSMFISMICRO FINANCEMICRO FINANCE INSTITUTIONSMICROCREDITMICROFINANCEMOBILE PHONEOUTPUTPERFORMANCE RISKPHOTOPOWER SHORTAGESPRIVATE SECTORPRODUCTIVITYPROFITABILITYRAPID GROWTHRECEIPTREMOTE AREASRENEWABLE ENERGYRENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENTRENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMREPAYMENTREPAYMENT PERIODRESULTSRURAL ELECTRIFICATIONSALES SUPPORTSOLAR HOME SYSTEMSOLAR HOME SYSTEMSSOLAR LANTERNSSOLAR POWERSUPERVISIONSUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURETARGETSTECHNICAL ASSISTANCETECHNICAL REQUIREMENTSTECHNICAL STANDARDSTELECOMMUNICATIONSTRANCHESTRANSACTIONUNIVERSAL ACCESSUSESVERIFICATIONWorld Bank10.1596/16177