Compare the 3 major solar architectures side-by-side to determine which system best matches your budget and load-shedding tolerance.
| Feature / Metric | On-Grid (Grid-Tied) | Hybrid Setup ⭐ (Best Seller) | Off-Grid Setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Connected directly to WAPDA/IESCO grid. No battery storage. | Connected to grid + battery bank. Best of both worlds. | Completely detached from WAPDA grid. 100% battery reliance. |
| Behavior During Load-Shedding | Turns OFF (Anti-islanding safety) | Runs 24/7 Seamlessly (10ms battery switch) | Runs 24/7 Continuously (Unaffected by grid) |
| Net Metering (Sell to IESCO) | 100% Supported | 100% Supported (Exports surplus after battery is full) | Not Applicable (No grid link) |
| Battery Requirement | No Batteries Needed | Lithium LiFePO4 or Tubular | Large Battery Bank Required |
| Initial Cost in Pakistan | Lowest (Rs. 150 - 165 / Watt) | Medium (Rs. 220 - 250 / Watt) | Highest (Rs. 260 - 300 / Watt) |
| Estimated 7kW Turnkey Price | Rs. 10.5 - 11.5 Lakh PKR | Rs. 15.5 - 17.0 Lakh PKR | Rs. 18.5 - 21.0 Lakh PKR |
| Payback Period | 2.5 - 3.0 Years | 3.0 - 3.5 Years | 4.0 - 5.0 Years |
| Pros |
• Lowest upfront investment • Fastest ROI in Pakistan • Zero battery replacement cost |
• Uninterrupted power during outages • Powers AC & fridge at night • Still gets negative WAPDA bills |
• Total independence from DISCOs • No utility bills, taxes, or FPA • Ideal for remote farmhouses |
| Cons |
• No power when WAPDA goes down • Requires a functioning 3-phase grid |
• Higher initial cost than on-grid • Batteries require replacement after 8-10 yrs |
• Expensive battery bank • Wasted solar energy when batteries full |
| Recommended For | Areas with rare load shedding (e.g. Islamabad sectors with high reliability) wanting zero bill. | 90% of Pakistani households who want both zero electric bills and uninterrupted backup during blackouts. | Remote farmhouses, tube-wells, rural sites, or locations with no electrical grid infrastructure. |
An On-Grid system consists of solar panels and a grid-tied inverter connected directly to your distribution box and the WAPDA grid via a bidirectional Green Meter. During sunny daytime hours, your home consumes solar energy first. Any extra units produced are pushed backward into the IESCO grid, causing your meter to spin in reverse. At night, you consume units from WAPDA, which are offset against the exported units on your bill.
A Hybrid system combines the financial benefits of Net Metering with the security of a whole-home UPS. It connects to solar panels, the WAPDA grid, AND a modern battery storage bank (such as Lithium LiFePO4).
How It Works Daily: During the day, solar powers your home and charges your batteries to 100%. Once batteries are full, all remaining excess power is exported to IESCO for bill credits. When a blackout or load-shedding hits, the inverter seamlessly shifts your critical loads (or entire house) to battery in less than 10 milliseconds — your computers won't even reboot.
An Off-Grid system operates completely isolated without any WAPDA connection. It relies on a very large battery bank to store enough daytime sunlight to power the house through the night and consecutive cloudy or rainy days.
Because all evening and nighttime power must be pulled from chemical storage, battery bank costs are substantial. We recommend off-grid systems primarily for remote farmhouses, telecommunication towers, poultry farms, and areas where extending a high-tension (HT) WAPDA line is financially unfeasible.
Click on any question to view clear, authoritative answers from our senior engineering team.