Govt Plans to Buy Cheap Solar Power During Day and Sell It at Higher Rates at Night

LAHORE: The federal government has reportedly prepared a plan to purchase surplus electricity generated by consumers’ solar systems at lower rates during the daytime and sell the stored power to consumers at higher rates during nighttime.

Under the proposed net billing policy, the government would purchase surplus solar electricity supplied to the grid at Rs8 per unit during the day and sell the stored electricity to consumers at around Rs50 per unit at night.

Under the existing net metering arrangement, solar consumers are reportedly paid Rs25 per unit for electricity supplied to the grid, while the proposal would allow the stored electricity to be supplied to consumers at Rs50 per unit during nighttime.

The plan involves installing battery energy storage systems at grid stations to store surplus solar electricity generated during the day and make it available to consumers after sunset.

According to media reports, the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) is considering the Defence grid station for the initial implementation of the project. If the pilot project proves successful, the system could subsequently be expanded to other areas.

Defence and Johar Town are among the Lahore areas where a significant amount of electricity is being generated through rooftop solar systems. Authorities are therefore considering these areas as potential locations for the initial deployment of the storage system.

Officials say the primary objective is to prevent surplus solar electricity generated during the daytime from going to waste and make it available for consumption during peak nighttime hours.

The proposed battery-storage system could also help extend the availability of solar-generated electricity beyond daylight hours and reduce pressure on the electricity grid during nighttime demand.