How many solar panels do I need in Pakistan?

A typical 3-bedroom Pakistani home paying Rs. 15,000-25,000/month needs 6-10 panels of 550W. A 5 kW system uses about 10 panels and covers most residential loads including one AC unit. Multan and Quetta need fewer panels due to higher sunlight (5.9-6.0 PSH); Islamabad needs slightly more (5.0 PSH).

How much does solar cost in Pakistan in 2026?

A complete 5 kW on-grid solar system in Pakistan costs approximately Rs. 600,000-900,000 installed in 2026. A 5 kW hybrid system with 10-15 kWh of battery storage costs Rs. 1,500,000-2,500,000. Prices vary by brand, installer quality, and whether you use local or imported components. Payback for grid-tied systems is typically 3-5 years.

Is solar worth it in Pakistan?

Yes — Pakistan has excellent solar resources and very high electricity costs, making solar one of the fastest-payback investments in the world. A grid-tied 5 kW system in Lahore saves approximately Rs. 200,000-300,000/year and pays back in 3-5 years. The 25-year system lifespan means 20+ years of free electricity. Load shedding makes battery backup additionally valuable despite higher upfront cost.

What is net metering in Pakistan?

Net metering in Pakistan allows you to export excess solar electricity to your DISCO and receive bill credits at the same rate you buy power. Approved by NEPRA, it requires a bi-directional meter and DISCO approval (30-90 days). Available through LESCO, MEPCO, HESCO, PESCO, QESCO, and GEPCO for systems up to 1 MW. Residential systems up to 5kW are easiest to approve.

🇵🇰 Solar Calculator Pakistan

Enter your monthly electricity bill and city — get solar system size, panel count, battery storage for load shedding, cost in PKR, and payback period.

Your electricity usage

Monthly electricity bill?

₨PKR

City?

Load shedding hours per day?

hrs/day

System size / inverter?

Net metering?

Battery backup for load shedding?

Recommended solar system — Pakistan

1.5 kW system — 3 × 550W panels

Monthly kWh usage178 kWh/mo

Annual solar production2,409 kWh/yr

Battery for load shedding24.0 kWh

Load shedding hours covered8.0 hrs/day

Inverter size3 kVA

Estimated total cost₨2,037,000

Annual electricity savings₨86,400/yr

Payback period23.6 years

CM Punjab Solar Scheme: You may be eligible for subsidized 5kW solar financing under the Chief Minister Punjab Solar Scheme. Contact your local DISCO for application details.

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How to Use This Calculator

Enter your monthly bill and city

Enter the total amount payable on your latest DISCO bill (LESCO, HESCO, MEPCO, PESCO, or QESCO). This is used to estimate your monthly kWh consumption based on the current blended electricity rate of approximately Rs. 45/kWh. Select your city — Quetta and Multan get the most solar radiation (6.0 PSH and 5.9 PSH), while Islamabad and Peshawar receive slightly less (5.0-5.2 PSH).

Set your load shedding and system size

Enter your daily load shedding hours — this determines how much battery storage you need to stay powered during outages. Select your inverter kVA based on your peak load: 3kVA handles fans, lights, and a small refrigerator; 5kVA supports one AC unit; 10kVA+ is for larger homes or businesses. Enable battery backup to cover load shedding, and enable net metering if you plan to export excess solar to your DISCO grid.

Read the results

The calculator outputs system size in kW, number of 550W panels, battery kWh needed for load shedding coverage, estimated cost in PKR, annual savings, and payback period. If your system is 5kW or under, you may be eligible for the CM Punjab Solar Scheme subsidy.

The Formula

Monthly kWh = Monthly Bill ÷ Rs. 45/kWh (blended rate) Daily kWh = Monthly kWh ÷ 30 System kW = Daily kWh ÷ (PSH × 0.80 efficiency) Panels = System kW × 1000 ÷ 550W (round up) Battery kWh = Load kW × Load shedding hours × 1.2 (buffer) Total Cost = (Panels × Rs. 22,000) + (Battery kWh × Rs. 80,000) + Inverter Payback = Total Cost ÷ Annual Savings

The PKR 45/kWh blended rate accounts for Pakistan's slab-based tariff system — residential consumers in higher slabs (over 700 units/month) pay Rs. 50-60/kWh while lower slabs pay Rs. 20-35/kWh. The calculator uses an average; higher-bill consumers in top slabs will see shorter payback periods than estimated. System efficiency of 80% accounts for inverter losses, cable losses, and soiling on panels.

Example

Ahmed — 3-bedroom Lahore home with 8hr load shedding

Ahmed pays Rs. 18,000/month to LESCO for his 3-bedroom home in Lahore. He faces 8 hours of daily load shedding and wants to run his inverter AC during outages.

Monthly billRs. 18,000

City / PSHLahore, 5.5 PSH

Load shedding8 hrs/day

System size5 kVA

Net meteringYes

Battery backupYes

Result

Monthly kWh~400 kWh/mo

System size3.0 kW

Panels needed6 × 550W panels

Battery capacity~39 kWh

Estimated cost~Rs. 3,500,000

Annual savings~Rs. 194,000/yr

Payback~16 years (no battery: ~5 years)

Battery storage for 8 hours of load shedding coverage significantly increases cost and payback. Many Pakistani homeowners choose a hybrid approach: smaller battery (3-5 kWh) for 2-3 hours of essential loads only, with grid-tied solar providing bill savings during the day. This reduces cost by Rs. 2+ million and cuts payback to 4-6 years.

FAQ

What size solar system do I need in Pakistan? ▼

System size depends on your electricity consumption and city. A typical 3-bedroom Pakistani home using 400-500 units/month in Lahore needs a 3-4 kW solar system (6-8 panels of 550W). Homes with one AC unit running 8+ hours/day may need 5-6 kW. Summer cooling loads in Karachi and Multan significantly increase system size requirements. Always size for your summer peak months, not annual average.

How does net metering work in Pakistan? ▼

Pakistan's net metering policy (NEPRA 2015, updated 2023) allows residential and commercial consumers to sell excess solar generation back to their DISCO (distribution company) at the same rate they purchase. You receive credits on your bill for units exported. The process involves: (1) Install a bi-directional meter (cost ~Rs. 15,000-25,000). (2) Submit application to your DISCO with system details. (3) Approval takes 30-90 days. Net metering is available in most urban areas through LESCO, HESCO, MEPCO, PESCO, QESCO, and GEPCO.

What is the CM Punjab Solar Scheme? ▼

The Chief Minister Punjab Solar Scheme provides subsidized solar financing to residential consumers with bills up to Rs. 25,000/month for systems up to 5kW. The scheme offers: interest-free or low-interest financing over 3-5 years, repaid through electricity bill savings. Eligibility varies by DISCO area and available quota. Contact your local LESCO, MEPCO, or FESCO office for current availability. Similar schemes exist under Roshan Gharana and other provincial programs.

Is it better to get a hybrid inverter or on-grid inverter in Pakistan? ▼

Given Pakistan's load shedding situation, a hybrid inverter is strongly recommended for residential use. Hybrid inverters can: (1) Power loads directly from solar during the day. (2) Charge batteries from solar or grid. (3) Provide UPS functionality during load shedding. (4) Feed excess to grid under net metering. On-grid (grid-tied only) inverters shut down during load shedding for safety — providing no backup power. Popular hybrid brands in Pakistan include Solis, Growatt, Goodwe, Deye, and Fox ESS in 3-10 kVA ranges.

Which city in Pakistan is best for solar? ▼

Quetta (6.0 PSH) and Multan (5.9 PSH) have the highest solar irradiance in Pakistan, generating 10-15% more electricity from the same system compared to Islamabad. Karachi (5.8 PSH) and Hyderabad (5.7 PSH) are also excellent. Islamabad (5.0 PSH) and Peshawar (5.2 PSH) receive slightly less solar but still make excellent solar sites — far better than Europe. All major Pakistani cities are viable for solar with payback periods of 3-6 years for grid-tied systems.

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