Pakistan’s solar boom is entering a new phase. More and more solar owners are adding batteries to store their own electricity instead of sending extra power to the national grid. This shift has caused a sharp rise in battery imports.
According to recent reports, lithium-ion battery imports jumped 220 percent in 2025, reaching 4.6 gigawatt-hours. Between January 2024 and mid-2026, the country brought in batteries with a combined capacity of about 6 gigawatts. Consumers have invested around Rs 126 billion in these storage systems.
The main reason is a policy change. Earlier, people could sell surplus solar power to the grid at good rates under net metering. Now, under the new net-billing rules, the payment for excess electricity is much lower. Many households and businesses find it better to store the power generated during the day and use it at night when electricity from the grid is expensive.
Falling battery prices have also helped. Global prices dropped from about 151 dollars per kilowatt-hour in 2022 to around 70 dollars in 2025, making storage more affordable.
This trend shows that Pakistanis want more control over their energy. They no longer fully trust the grid for reliable and cheap power. In response, the government has started preparing a National Battery Framework to manage the growing storage market and encourage local manufacturing.
Experts say this move from pure solar generation to solar-plus-storage is a natural next step. It helps people cut bills further and reduces pressure on the national power system during peak evening hours.