From selling solar to storing solar?

Business Recorder reported that net-metered electricity purchases in Pakistan reached roughly 270 GWh in June 2026, up from about 20 GWh in June 2023, a more than 13-fold rise in three years. The April 2026 peak touched nearly 390 GWh, compared with around 310 GWh a year earlier and only 100 GWh in 2024. Growth has been steady across much of the calendar, and 2026 is already well ahead of earlier years.

Solar panel imports have reportedly passed 55,000MW in cumulative terms, yet the officially net-metered base is only a fraction of that figure. According to the article, a large share of capacity sits in self-consumption, commercial and industrial installations, hybrids and storage-backed systems. The framework is being rewritten, with net billing set to replace net metering for new connections, which the article expects will slow the pace of grid-connected growth.

Batteries are now the focus, with July lithium battery imports hitting a record USD88 million, the highest monthly total yet. The ratio has shifted sharply: two years back, about USD1 of batteries arrived for each USD80 to USD85 spent on panels, while July's gap narrowed to USD2.5. The article suggests storage could shift evening consumption and reshape demand, which makes grid planning harder.