Widespread adoption of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Pakistan will reduce demand from the national electricity grid by up to 8.4 percent, according to a new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).
But the shift is increasing the financial burden on those who continue to rely on grid electricity.
The IEEFA report, Battery Storage and the Future of Pakistan’s Electricity Grid, highlights that between FY2019 and FY2025, Pakistan imported 32.8 gigawatts (GW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, 5.2 GW of which arrived in the first half of FY2025. Of this, only about half is estimated to be installed, with 11.5 GW believed to be used in off-grid systems.
If all net-metered installations were paired with batteries of equal capacity, annual grid demand could fall by 1.5 terawatt-hours (TWh). In a more likely scenario, grid demand could decline by 11.5 TWh, or 8.4 percent of total electricity usage.
In 2024 alone, Pakistan imported 1.25 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of lithium-ion batteries, followed by 400 megawatt-hours (MWh) in the first two months of 2025. These imports could offset 438 GWh of grid demand annually, based on daily charge-discharge cycles.
The shift toward decentralised solar and battery systems is helping consumers lower energy costs and grid dependency. However, it is also weakening the financial sustainability of the national grid.
IEEFA warns that without reforms, this trend could worsen cost inequities in the power sector, with a shrinking number of users bearing a growing share of the system’s fixed costs.
I can see neither the govt nor the journalists are intelligent in this country .
Electricity is a public utility not a burden or profit or loss same as public health or military or police
Electricity solar adoption doesn’t burdens but allows govt to produce less and incur less expenses in foreign oil usage
Power plants have to produce less , saving huge expenses for the govt
If anything solar is the reason pakistan can even have Electricity . We all remember load shedding days
On the contrary, they are intentionally misleading ppl. Irony is instead of meeting renewable energy demands from indigenous production they had earlier allowed to massively import solar plants in which they were major importers themselves. Adding to it Zeroizing sales tax of solar also opened doors for money laundering for elites. Not realising that large chunk of solar users had invested money mostly through loans and now they are being pushed towards buying batteries. Again an intentional attempt.
Argument is green energy should be rather imcentized instead deliberately discouraging means relying on imported fuel and high fixed costs. Alas! This is not a debate rather a dictation. Question is when ppl are gonna realize that they need to stand up to elites. I believe it is not a matter of if but when.
When trying to find culprit for current energy sector woes, just look for who set up electricity contracts containing backdoor benefits laden policies like capacity payments, dollarized returns, etc.
Bulls eye, PPP and PML(N) are the culprits. But there is one more party in this heinous crime ie bureaucracy. Where are all those BPS 22 secretaries and their bandwagon. The 4th party is the Judiciary, that slept and is still in deep slumber while all the above three made money and bribes.
Government is always there to make sure none is the country sleeps at peace. Take more juice out of the nation.
Then .why dont the people/who manage the GRID/SYSTEM..become .more (Efficient)..????
Its like saying in a Olympic/Cross country /Race to the….Runner/ahead of you..
Please run slower /because of.my Own(inefficiencies)I cannot keep up with you??