The cheapest batteries in China are conducting a change of energy in a country harassed by power cuts, but some care about waste and people who are left behind.
In the burning summer sun of Southern Punjab, the roof of the factory brightness of Lucky Cement with solar panels that absorb the rays. Next, within a quiet control room, you feel rows of lithium -ion batteries made by the Chinese company CATL.
While the plant is generally based on the national network when possible, these batteries can feed it during the blackouts that have become an almost daily problem.
In the occupied industrial areas of Pakistan, from Faisalabad textile factories to Food processing units in Sindh, a growing number of companies is using solar panels combined with batteries.
They, together with the richest households, are trying to deal with the high prices of electricity and frequent loading, where energy turns off to parts of the network to relieve tension in electric plants. Helping to boost this change is an unexpected factor: China produces more batteries than you can use.
But instead of continuing depending on the Chinese battery and solar products, Pakistan needs policies that promote its manufacture at the national level, which make this technology accessible to the poorest communities and foster safe recycling.
China has, Pakistan needs
China, in recent years, has greatly expanded its battery production capacity to meet the needs of its Electric Vehicle Industry (EV) and Green Energy Objectives of the Government. More than three quarters of the world’s batteries occur in China, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). However, EV sales in Europe and other markets have recently slowed down, leaving Chinese companies with a surplus.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has faced a growing energy crisis marked by regular power cuts and unsechible electricity. The main causes are the sub -structured investment and dependence on the expensive fossil fuel imports. Pakistan is, therefore, an ideal market for Chinese battery manufacturers, who are now exporting their products at lower prices.
Although the precise proportion is not publicly available, Pakistan currently imports most of its Chinese lithium batteries, according to the Institute of Economy and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).
The price of lithium -based batteries fell 20% in 2024, partly promoted by competition between Chinese companies, according to the IEA. IEEFA data indicated a significant increase in Pakistan lithium batteries imports in the first two months of this year. If that trend continues, imports could almost double in 2025 compared to 2024.
Solar + battery = win?
Pakistanis have been using solar panels for years, especially in rural areas. However, without adequate storage, benefits can only be felt during the day. Now, the combination of solar panels with battery storage systems is transforming how energy is managed. In the nine months between July 2024 and March 2025, Pakistan imported 12.7 Gigawatts (GW) of photovoltaic solar energy, amazing given its total installed energy generation capacity of all sources of 46.6 GW.
If they already have solar panels, people connect them to Chinese lithium batteries to store the energy they generate. Meanwhile, commercial consumers and people in recently electrifying areas buy combined solar battery systems.
These new solar battery systems make energy available at night or during interruptions. For factories, stores and offices that need a constant power supply, and generally depend on diesel generators, this is an important improvement.
In Faisalabad, an owner of a textile factory told me that he cut his diesel consumption 70% after installing a 1.5 megawatt battery system. “It cost us a lot in advance,” he said, “but we hope to recover the investment in three years. More importantly, we are no longer at the mercy of the Public Services Company.”
In the rich urban neighborhoods of Lahore, developers now offer houses with solar energy and battery systems incorporated as standard characteristics. In Sindh, some richer farmers are using tube wells with solar energy with a backup battery to pump water even at night.
This silent revolution is happening throughout the country. From cold storage units in Baluchistan to small IT companies in Islamabad, solar battery combos are helping people stay productive during one hour electric cuts.
The impotent
But while the richest companies and families benefit, many poorer communities are staying behind. Solar battery systems remain expensive, and government support for clean energy is minimal. Microfinance loans for solar facilities are difficult to achieve, especially in the rural area and informal urban settlements. Disadvantaged people often lack land or guarantees documents, which makes banks and microfinance groups hesitate to issue loans.
Asad Mehmood, a development specialist in Islamabad, warns that this trend could make inequality worse. “When clean energy becomes a luxury for a few, it runs the risk of deepening social divisions. Access to energy is a right, not a privilege,” he says.
In many Katchi Abadis (Informal settlements), people still depend on illegal electricity connections. The poorly ventilated diesel generators are also common, exposing people to high energy costs and health risks.
Meanwhile, small merchants and farmers, who are already fighting inflation, find it difficult to invest in solar configurations even though they would save them in the long term. Without political support, clean energy can remain out of reach of the people who need it most.
Lobo of land or development partner?
There is also a growing concern among energy experts that Pakistan could become too related to Chinese manufacturers.
In anonymity, an energy researcher at the Lahore University of Management Sciences says: “Yes, we are obtaining affordable technology, but we are also becoming extremely dependent on a source. What happens if China changes its export policies or battery prices come up again?”
There is also the growing need to properly recycle or get rid of batteries. Currently, Pakistan has an electronic waste collection rate of 0%, according to the Global E-Waste Statistics Association. Most lithium -ion batteries end up in landfills or are dismantled by informal workers without any safety measure. This can lead to chemical pollution, fire risks and serious health risks.
In 2020, Pakistan promised to generate 60% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. By 2023, the proportion was 40% if the nuclear is included and 26% if not, according to Ember. Solar battery systems could help reach the objective of 60% faster than large -scale wind dams or parks, which often face political delays and obstacles.
But at this time, this green change is happening without appropriate rules or planning. There are no national standards for the installation, storage or safety of the battery. There is no clear integration of small solar battery systems in the main electricity grid. Most of the transition is being promoted by individuals and companies that act out of necessity.
An opportunity to rethink energy
Pakistan’s movement to solar battery systems offers a real opportunity to address the country’s energy problems while helping the planet. But we must be careful. The current change is happening more due to market pressure than proper planning.
If Pakistan wants this energy change to really benefit all, several important steps must be taken.
The government must create proper battery recycling laws to manage electronic waste safely and prevent environmental damage.
Clear standards must also be established for the quality of the products and installation practices to avoid lower quality accidents and equipment that are imported.
Subsidies and accessible loan options must be introduced to make solar couple systems more accessible, especially for farmers, merchants and low -income families.
Finally, Pakistan should invest in the development of local industries to produce key components nationwide, reducing the dependence of foreign imports and the strengthening of energy independence.
We need national policies that are fair, safe and lasting. We must build a system that supports both companies and poor households. And we must ensure that the technology that we import today is not waste that we cannot handle tomorrow.
As the sun continues to shine on the roofs of Pakistan, solar panels and batteries are silently promoting houses, shops and factories. But they are also asking an important question. Are we shaping our future of energy, or are we simply reacting to what the world gives us?
This article was originally published by Dialogue Earth and has been republished with permission.
Image of heading: Workers install photovoltaic panels in the 900 megawalpur zonergy bahawalpur solar park in Punjab, Oriental Pakistan (Image: Ahmad Kamal / Imelo / Alamy)
