In Pakistan, the prices of solar panels have dropped by 25%, making solar energy more affordable for many people. One example is the high-quality 585-watt A-grade solar panel, which used to cost Rs22,000 but is now available for Rs16,500. This significant price cut is good news for homeowners and businesses thinking about switching to solar power.
The price drop happened shortly after the government introduced a new net-metering policy. Under this policy, people who generate more electricity from their solar panels than they use can sell the extra energy back to the national power grid. This setup encourages more people to invest in solar energy by helping them save money or even earn from their solar systems.
However, energy experts have pointed out a possible downside. They say that even though the panels are now cheaper, the new policy could lead to a longer payback time for those who install solar systems. In the past, people could recover their investment in about 3 to 4 years. But now, due to changes in the net-metering system, the payback period might stretch to 10 to 12 years, which could make some people hesitant to invest in solar energy right away.
Despite this concern, the overall goal of the policy is to make clean and renewable energy more accessible and to reduce the country’s reliance on traditional power sources.
