Pakistan has achieved around $12 billion in savings through the rapid adoption of solar energy, while further expansion of battery storage could help strengthen the national grid and improve energy reliability, Senator Sherry Rehman said.

Speaking at the Solar Storage Flexibility Conference in Islamabad, Rehman highlighted the growing role of solar power in Pakistan’s energy mix, noting that one in every five households in the country now has a solar system.

She said the next phase of Pakistan’s clean energy transition should focus on battery storage, smart grids and distributed energy resources to help manage electricity supply, reduce grid pressure and improve energy security.

Rehman added that solar energy could deliver an estimated $6.3 billion in additional savings this year, but emphasized that affordable financing, improved grid infrastructure and supportive policies would be essential to expand renewable energy adoption.

She pointed out that Pakistan’s power sector challenge was not simply a shortage of generation, as the country has surplus installed capacity, but also issues related to planning, grid management and capacity payments.

The senator called for greater investment in decentralized energy solutions for households, small businesses and local communities, saying battery storage would play a key role in making renewable energy more reliable.

She also stressed the need for increased international climate financing for clean energy projects, arguing that emerging economies should have a stronger role in shaping global climate decisions.