Solar power generation system in Pakistan

Is solar power a key element of Pakistan's energy transition?

Solar power, increasingly coupled with batteries, is a key element of the energy transition for countries including Pakistan. Pakistan is experiencing an energy revolution as households and businesses rapidly adopt solar-plus-battery systems to meet their own energy needs.

How will solar power impact Pakistan's energy future?

If this trend continues, total battery imports could reach 8.75 GWh by 2030. This would be enough to meet over a quarter of peak demand, while solar could cover most daytime electricity needs. This surge in solar and batteries is driving down energy costs and improving reliability for individual users in Pakistan.

How much does solar cost in Pakistan?

This became apparent last year, when solar imports to Pakistan more than tripled from just one year earlier, approaching $2.1 billion, according to data from Renewables First, an energy and environment think tank in Islamabad.

Why did Pakistan adopt solar power?

Photo by Hexzain / Shutterstock. Solar adoption in Pakistan resulted from a “perfect storm” of supply and demand. On the demand side, an unprecedented hike in electricity tariffs — up 155% in just three years — rendered grid power unaffordable for many people and businesses.

Can solar power democratize Pakistan's energy system?

By creating new access opportunities in marginalized communities, solar challenges the entrenched inequities of Pakistan’s energy regime. However, this democratizing potential is still uneven: Households able to afford storage systems or larger arrays benefit more than those limited to small daytime systems.

Does Pakistan have a solar system?

Pakistan’s story is unique, said Mustafa Amjad, program director at Renewables First, an energy think tank based in Islamabad. Solar has been adopted at mass scale in countries including Vietnam and South Africa, “but none have had the speed and scale that Pakistan has had,” he told CNN.