ISLAMABAD: Pakistan could soon address its escalating power grid challenges by deploying battery storage technology in a structured way, an SDPI study says.

The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), in collaboration with the Network for Clean Energy Transition (NCET), launched the study on Monday.

It presents a data-driven national roadmap for the optimal siting of grid-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Pakistan. The report, titled “Optimal Siting of Grid-Scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in Pakistan,” advocates deploying storage technology to alleviate grid constraints.

Experts, regulators and researchers discussed how BESS can enhance grid flexibility, integrate Variable Renewable Energy (VRE), reduce curtailment, and address transmission bottlenecks, as the country pursues its clean energy transition.

Study proposes siting framework for grid-scale systems

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Kashif Imran, a Professor at the US-Pakistan Centre for Advanced Studies in Energy, National University of Science and Technology (NUST), said the study offered valuable insight into optimal BESS siting but highlighted ongoing confusion about its deployment across the sector.

He called for a three-tier approach to support investors and noted that the study, though transmission-focused, was conducted with limited available data, underscoring the need to harness data analytics more effectively.

Dr Imran said BESS could also help reduce transmission losses and address voltage fluctuations, adding that since storage is not available round the clock, its applications should be combined to meet specific grid needs.

Presenting the study findings, Muhammad Umer, Research Associate at SDPI, said Pakistan’s power sector continues to face persistent Energy Not Served (ENS) losses amounting to 2.77 GWh.

He said the study focused on four core objectives: developing a data-driven siting framework for BESS, mitigating congestion and curtailment, building a business case for alignment with CPEC 2.0 investment, and formulating a policy and regulatory roadmap.

He added that the research included a preliminary network-wide screening of the National Grid Company’s 500 kV and 220 kV grid stations, using a ranking-based methodology to assess and compare candidate sites — including Shikarpur, Faisalabad, Dadu and Rawat — for optimal BESS deployment based on technical and locational parameters.

Mr Umer called for mandating BESS modelling in the Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP), integrating BESS into Transmission System Expansion Planning (TSEP) cycles, adopting bottom-up forecasting, and establishing a national BESS deployment roadmap.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2026