Pakistan: The solar revolution nobody planned

5 hours ago

Pakistan experienced the world's fastest distributed solar rollout from 2023 to 2025, driven by private adoption without government subsidies.
Solar became Pakistan's largest electricity source by summer 2025, with around 55 GW imported, mostly rooftop residential installations.
Key drivers were unreliable grid power (load-shedding up to 20 hours/day in some areas) and rising electricity tariffs, while solar panel prices collapsed.
The boom has created a utility 'death spiral,' where grid costs shift to remaining users, prompting regulatory changes like net billing to slow solar adoption.
Solar helps narrow electricity access gaps for off-grid households but highlights challenges in grid management, market design, and equity in energy transitions.

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