Pakistan proposes 18% tax on foreign panels in wake of solar imports surge
The Pakistan government has proposed an 18% general sales tax on imported solar panels in its budget for the new 2025-26 financial year. Pakistan Solar Association has warned the tax risks slowing solar adoption in the country.
Pakistan’s net-metering capacity hits 5.3 GW
Pakistan’s net-metered solar capacity has hit 5.3 GW, driven by surging rooftop installations and record solar imports from China.
New method to optimize bifacial PV system performance in residential applications
Scientists in Qatar have outlined a new approach to optimize residential bifacial PV systems by combining south-facing and vertically mounted east-facing configurations. The novel methodology reportedly results in a 21.6% increase in a system’s net present value.
Pakistan’s net-metering solar capacity hits 4 GW
Pakistan’s net-metering solar capacity surpassed 4 GW in 2024, marking significant growth in its solar market ahead of upcoming changes to the program later this month.
‘The Solar Blitz’: How crisis-ridden Pakistan is leading the world on the ‘Solar March’
Karl-Heinz Remmers examines Pakistan’s startling growth in solar energy use, which could serve as an inspiration not only for developing countries but also for Germany and the EU.
Fuzzy reconfiguration scheme to reduce power losses in PV systems under fault conditions
Scientists in Pakistan have developed a fuzzy reconfiguration method that can reportedly mitigate power losses due to shading and hotspot faults by up to 23.5% compared to conventional techniques. The proposed scheme is said to be suitable for both square and rectangular PV arrays of different sizes.
Scientist develops machine-learning method to identify faulty solar panels
A scientist in Sweden has developed a new hybrid local features-based method using thermographs to identify faulty solar panels.
Dealing with Pakistan’s solar panel glut
Solar panels flooded into Pakistan during the first half of 2024 and oversupply has wiped out module margins. Solar developers want greater liberalization of the nation’s electricity market but the government is concerned that moving too quickly could place more pressure on utilities already burdened by high capacity payments.
Solar Asia unveils 730 W heterojunction panel with 23.5% efficiency
Pakistan-based Solar Asia said its new heterojunction product uses 210 mm cells provided by Chinese manufacturer Tongwei. The panel is designed and engineered in Germany by Sonnex Energie and is initially intended for sale in the Pakistani market.
Standalone PV-hydrogen-battery system for EV charging
Researchers in Pakistan have tested several configurations of an offgrid PV-hydrogen system intended to power EV chargers. The system achieved the lowest levelized cost of electricity when it was combined with battery storage.
