Pakistan can turn rooftop solar boom into ‘swarm grids’: study
Pakistan can harness its growth in rooftop solar through decentralised, community-driven “swarm grids”, but regulatory reform remains the key missing link between technical feasibility and large-scale deployment, according to a new study. The Policy Research Institute for Equitable Development (PRIED) on Thursday launched a techno-economic assessment of swarm electrification attended by…
Pakistan's rooftop solar surge could be transformed into a network of self-managed "swarm grids," according to a new study. Yet, the study asserts, the decisive missing piece is regulatory overhaul. Conducted by the Policy Research Institute for Equitable Development (PRIED), the study unveiled two papers: one analyzing swarm grid feasibility in urban and rural settings, and another charting the path forward.
Despite an influx of solar panels, blackouts and load-shedding persist. Swarm grids, decentralized micro-grids, enable households and businesses to generate, store, and trade solar power, with the national grid serving as a backup. The assessment explored Islamabad and Tharparkar, a rural Sindh district, to gauge technical, economic, and social viability.
Urban swarm grids could function as private enterprises, while rural ones demand upfront investment and community training. The central hurdle is regulatory, particularly restrictions on peer-to-peer trading and third-party sales. The study proposes regulatory changes, standardised equipment, and pilot projects to spur commercial scale-up.
It also suggests making the shift more gender-inclusive by allowing solar assets to be registered in either spouse's name, ensuring women's involvement in installation and maintenance, and supporting women-led teams.
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