DER Task Force Pakistan's distributed solar boom with Jenny Chase
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Sep 30, 2024 Jenny Chase, a renowned global solar analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, shares her deep insights into Pakistan's solar surge. She highlights the nation's rise as the third-largest importer of Chinese solar panels while revealing an unsettling disconnect with the national utility. The conversation touches on the impacts of decentralized energy on traditional utilities, concerns over potential utility death spirals, and the challenges faced by homeowners amid regulatory hurdles. Jenny emphasizes the need for innovation in energy storage and the transformative potential of solar energy in the country.
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Mystery of Missing Solar Panels
- BNEF noticed a discrepancy between China's solar module exports to Pakistan and Pakistan's reported installations.
- They explored possibilities like re-exporting for illicit activities, highlighting data analysis challenges.
Significant Import for Pakistan
- In 2021, Pakistan imported 2GW of solar, comparable to Switzerland but significant given Pakistan's economic status.
- This amount was unusually high, exceeding imports of similar-sized, less developed nations, raising further questions.
Untracked Rooftop Solar Boom
- Satellite data analysis revealed vast, previously untracked rooftop solar installations, primarily on factories.
- This confirmed suspicions of widespread, unreported deployments, driven by escalating electricity prices.