As Pakistan’s solar industry experiences rapid growth, concerns are mounting about the integration of distributed solar systems into the national grid.
Engineer Syed Faizan Ali Shah, a member of the Prime Minister’s Pakistan Solarisation Committee, highlighted these challenges at a seminar organized by Shenzhen Hopewind Electric. Shah warned of increased exports from net-metered solar systems, particularly during shoulder months when demand is lower, leading to grid stress. He also pointed out the uneven distribution of grid concentration across different areas.
“The grid is facing a decline in its minimum operational load, which presents challenges in managing reverse power flow, over-voltages, harmonics, and low reactive power,”
Shah explained. Power quality issues, curtailments, rising peak demand, and increasing tariffs are additional concerns.
The growth of the solar sector is driven by rising electricity prices and falling costs of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. A favorable regulatory framework, with increasing buy-back rates and shorter payback periods, has also encouraged solar adoption.
On the industrial side, the absence of red tape, coupled with tax breaks and zero customs duties on solar imports, has fostered the sector’s expansion. Pakistan’s utility-scale solar generation stands at 780 MW, while distributed solar produces 2,700 MW, excluding K-Electric’s 600 MW. Captive solar generation capacity ranges between 2,000 and 3,000 MW.
However, the solar industry has faced setbacks, including a ban on utility-scale solar projects and solar panel imports in 2018. Licensing issues, low-quality imports, and the COVID-19 pandemic have also hindered progress.
To address these challenges, Shah emphasized the need for grid modernization. Advancements in distribution grid technology, such as digitizing the network, transformer monitoring, and implementing SCADA systems to manage power flow, are essential. Improved weather forecasting systems and incentivizing the use of batteries and smart inverters can also help stabilize the grid.
Shah also advocated for residential batteries to store excess solar energy, which can be used during peak hours to reduce grid stress. “Batteries provide energy security and independence, reducing peak demand and offering grid stability,” he added. Encouraging consumers to install solar panels according to regulations, maintain appropriate inverter voltage settings, and support utility monitoring of solar PV systems will further mitigate challenges.
