Pakistan Solar & Energy Market Roundup: September 14, 2026
NEPRA Conditionally Approves $58 Billion Power System Plan
Pakistan’s National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has conditionally approved the Integrated System Plan (ISP 2025–35), mapping out over $58 billion in long-term power generation and transmission investments. Submitted by the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO), the decade-long roadmap projects maximum electricity demand reaching over 35,500 MW by 2035, requiring more than 26,000 MW in new generation capacity. However, NEPRA rejected a proposed $900 million standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) investment within the plan, ordering a comprehensive technical feasibility study before any utility-scale storage procurement can proceed.
Regulator Makes Battery Storage Mandatory for Renewable Energy Auctions
In a major regulatory update for large-scale solar and wind developers, NEPRA has authorized mandatory battery storage requirements for Pakistan's upcoming 800 MW renewable energy wheeling auction. Under the new ISMO framework rules, any solar or wind project participating in the auction must co-locate a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with capacity equal to at least 10% of the facility's firm output. The requirement aims to capture daytime solar overproduction, reduce grid curtailment, and discharge stored green power to help meet peak demand during evening hours.
Relief for Backlogged Rooftop Solar Net Metering Applicants
The Ministry of Energy's Power Division has instructed regional distribution companies (DISCOs) to expedite thousands of pending rooftop solar connections that were caught in administrative backlogs. Under the directive, consumers who fulfilled key procedural steps—including paying demand notices and completing meter inspections—prior to the framework shift from net metering to net billing will be protected under legacy net-metering rules. This move safeguards financial returns for early solar adopters while highlighting the growing importance of battery-backed self-consumption for new installations.
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