When it comes to harnessing the use of solar energy, the most developed countries are vying for an economical and affordable solution. However, you may be surprised to know that one of the poorest and most underdeveloped countries of the world is leading already in 2024 when it comes to the use of solar panels and energy to meet power needs in homes.
Yes, we are talking about Pakistan which seems to be reaching new heights each year when it comes to using solar power to meet daily energy needs. The country is going through a rapid pace of solar power integration in homes both in the urban and rural areas.
The astounding growth in the use of solar power in the countries has also surprised experts and scientists around the world. Many experts are referring to it as one of the fastest solar revolutions around the world.
However, if you ask common citizens in the country most are switching to renewable solar power just because they do not have any other alternate option. Most people say that they have to desperately switch to installing solar panels at home because of extended power cuts and blackouts in the country.
Pakistan Surges Ahead for Solar Power Integration and Use
If you look at the situation it seems that Pakistan has found its dearest neighbor China to resolve the issue of massive power shortage in the country. China is one of the close allies of Pakistan and it is extending help to the latter to meet its energy crisis.
Thanks to Chinese companies, the Pakistan local markets are crowded with cheap and affordable solar panels which the locals buy and install at home to derive electricity.
With its current rate of integration, experts believe that Pakistan can add another 17 GW of solar power in 2024 only. If you look at Pakistan’s energy production which still relies vastly on fossil fuels, this number accounts for nearly one-third of the total generation output.
Energy analyst Dave Jones from the UK terms it as one of the fastest and probably the most dangerous solar revolutions that mankind has ever witnessed.
Due to its massive installation, Pakistan is now one of the most flourishing markets when it comes to sales of solar panels. Its entire 100% sales is accounting for domestic sales as many common people are buying and installing the panels at home. Experts have already found that Pakistan is way ahead of much-developed countries like China, the US, and Germany when it comes to the installation of solar panels and the use of solar energy.
It seems that both Pakistani locals and Chinese companies are benefitting from this. For Chinese companies, they are getting a market to sell their cheap and affordable solar panels. As for the Pakistanis, the political friendship allows these solar energy solutions to become available across the country.
Issues with Power Grid and Electricity Producing Companies
It seems that more and more people are adapting to the use of solar power to meet their electricity outputs as a means of desperate attempts rather than an alternative solution.
Pakistan’s problem with power generation is not new. For many decades now companies and the Government have been in dire shortage of energy production compared with the increasing demands. Plus the country also lags in infrastructure to install high-watt power grids to provide electricity across the country. This means that many people are living with the uncertainty of power cuts and outages throughout the year.
Experts say that there is another reason for it. They believe that the low GDP per capita of the country and the crippled economic situation of the common people is also a major reason.
If you ask any locals, they would complain about the Government’s soaring energy prices each year. People are not able to pay the rising electricity bills and thus have to adapt to solar energy to get electricity to their homes.
Pakistan’s economy is in turmoil and the country is not able to buy cheap oil anymore from Ukraine as the latter is involved in a war with Russia. The country for decades did not come up with a generic solution to handle increasing energy demands. It still relies on the use of coal and petroleum to produce energy.
The IMF isn’t helping Pakistan’s economy to get back on track either due to its frequent loan defaults. Due to the rising trade deficit, the Government has no other option than to cut subsidies for electricity which is getting rising protests from the locals throughout the country.
Jones said that for the people this is just a regular affair now to meet their electricity needs of the day by using solar power.
Data from the Government seems to be lagging much behind the pace at which solar power is getting integrated into homes. Government institutions just cannot keep up with the rapid consumer transactions at the local bazaars.
Real-Life Case Studies About People’s Desperate Measures to Switch to Solar Power
Shafaqat Hossain a normal resident in Islamabad recounts how his mother nearly died because of a 28-hour power cut during the heatwave this summer. He instantly decided to switch to harnessing solar power to get consistent electricity at home without even giving it a second thought.
He along with both of his parents, wife, and three children all reside in the same house. He says, ‘There is no alternate solution in Pakistan and the Government isn’t listening to the demands of the common people’.
His mom had to spend an agonizing two days in the hospital while recovering from the heatstroke. Hossain says even the hospital went through a power cut. He was only suggested by his friend to buy solar panels from a local company that imports from China.
Hossain says ‘Forget about air condition, even the fans would not work, the fridge would not be able to keep water cool during the intense summers’. He says that the power cuts and the heat waves are getting severe every year.
However, when asked about the condition now, he seems pretty satisfied. His energy bills at home have slashed by 80% and there are no more worries about power cuts.
Government Suffers as Locals Switch to Solar Power
Studies and experts believe that with the rapid pace at which the country is going about its solar revolution, solar energy may be installed in more than 80% of homes in the country.
It seems that although the locals are getting a good long-term solution and access to cheap solar electricity, the Government is suffering. The grids are providing electricity to lesser and lesser communities of people as most would meet their demands through solar power.
This is hurting revenues for the local grids and power generators as they are losing customers to cheaper and reliable sources of power.
Jones says that while building these power plants the Government overspent a lot and was made to provide energy needs for the masses. However, the current cost of running these massive power plants is hurting the Government as it is no longer feasible. This is one of the reasons why Pakistan is seeing a massive surge in prices of state-generated electricity.
It is also causing problems in distributing power equally and effectively across the grid. This counts as another reason why Pakistan is seeing a massive power cut due to inappropriate power distribution across the grid.
More Cheaper Solar Panels From China Flooding the Pakistani Markets
The manufacturing cost of solar panels has seen a massive reduction of almost 90% in China. Plus the country with its technical expertise has always been one of the pioneers when it comes to developing solar panels.
In just more than four decades solar power has gone on just from being a concept to one of the cheapest forms of generating electricity.
It seems that Pakistan is not the only country that is favoring a solar revolution. Many other smaller nations in Asia like Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, the UAE, and Thailand are also opting for cheaper solutions to rising power costs.
Will the crippled Government be able to find long-term solutions for power shortage and cheap cost of generating electricity and providing it for the masses remains to be seen.
FAQs
It seems that with the current rate, among many other options, solar energy is the most cheapest and affordable solution available to mankind to derive electricity apart from fossil fuels and do it feasibly.
Most of you may think that solar panels are the only solution. But apart from this scientists are also developing solar-based equipment like exhaust fans, solar-powered ventilation, solar batteries, and other gadgets that run o[on solar energy.
As per studies, solar panels are one of the most affordable solutions for the common man. The cost of solar panels in some countries has been reduced by more than 90%.
Although mankind’s next best option apart from coal and petroleum is solar energy, many other renewable sources of energy are not far behind in terms of electricity output. Hydroelectricity and wind turbines are also seeing massive installations across different countries.
