Pakistan Storage Mandate
Pakistan Moves to Mandate Battery Storage for 800MW Wheeling Auction
Anonymous
Key Points
1
Nepra has asked for stakeholder comments within seven days prior to approval of the proposed changes to Pakistan's Wheeling Auction Process.
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The 800 MW auction capacity is described as a notional figure, part of Pakistan's ongoing move toward a competitive electricity market rather than an actual confirmed capacity.
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ISMO proposes an Independent Grievance Redressal Committee to handle bidder complaints separately from the auction evaluation process.
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Under the current framework, bidders previously had only one month to submit proposals with no provision for extensions, prompting talks of deadline extensions.
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The proposed changes have been submitted to NEPRA for approval as part of the government’s effort to create a more flexible and reliable power market.
Pakistan is moving to make battery storage mandatory for all participants in its upcoming 800MW renewable energy auction, a significant shift in how the country manages its power grid. The Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) proposed the rule, and the government is now backing it, requiring each project to pair solar or wind capacity with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), according to Al Sadat Marketing.
Under the proposed rule, developers must install BESS equal to at least 10% of a project's firm capacity. They can install more if the economics make sense. The changes are now before Pakistan's National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), which has asked stakeholders to submit comments within seven days before any formal approval.
Why Pakistan Is Forcing Storage Into Every Bid
Pakistan's grid has a growing curtailment problem. Too much solar power floods the grid at midday, then drops sharply in the evening — a pattern known as the "duck curve." This creates congestion and wastes energy. ISMO says mandatory BESS will smooth out those spikes, improve grid reliability, and make each project more economically stable, according to Al Sadat Marketing.
ISMO also cited positive financial modeling to back the mandate. The agency pointed to similar rules already in place in India, China, the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic as proof the approach works. ISMO noted broad stakeholder support for the storage requirement during the planning process for Pakistan's competitive electricity market.
800MW Auction Gets New Rules and More Time
The 800MW figure is a notional target, not a confirmed capacity number. It represents Pakistan's push toward a more open, competitive power market. Under the old framework, bidders had just one month to submit proposals with no option to ask for more time. That tight window drew complaints, prompting ISMO to propose deadline extensions as part of the updated auction rules, according to Al Sadat Marketing.
The proposed changes also create an Independent Grievance Redressal Committee. This new body would handle complaints from bidders separately from the auction evaluation process. Keeping grievances out of the main evaluation is meant to protect fairness and give developers a clear path to raise concerns without disrupting the bidding process.
NEPRA Review Stands Between Proposal and Policy
None of these changes are final yet. ISMO has submitted the full package to NEPRA for approval. NEPRA opened a seven-day public comment window, giving industry players, developers, and other stakeholders a short but formal chance to weigh in before regulators decide, according to Al Sadat Marketing.
The outcome will shape how Pakistan structures renewable energy deals for years ahead. If approved, every new solar and wind project entering the wheeling auction must budget for storage from the start. That changes project design, financing, and risk — making BESS a core part of Pakistan's clean energy build-out rather than an optional add-on.
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