NEPRA has given its go-ahead to make BESS mandatory for solar and wind energy auctions
Projects participating in the first 400 MW tranche must include co-located BESS with firm capacity of at least 10% of the project’s firm capacity
The requirement translates to an estimated 40 MW of BESS and around 160 MWh of storage capacity for the initial auction
Pakistan’s National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has approved mandatory co-location of battery energy storage systems (BESS) for solar and wind auctions.
Under the approved amendments to the wheeling auction process, NEPRA said BESS will be a mandatory eligibility requirement for participating solar and wind generation facilities. The battery system must have firm capacity of at least 10% of the firm capacity of the associated renewable energy project.
The decision, explained NEPRA, is related to the auction framework for 800 MW aggregate wheeling renewable energy capacity. The auction process will be run by the Independent System and Market Operator of Pakistan (ISMO).
For the initial 400 MW auction, the requirement is estimated to represent about 40 MW of BESS firm capacity and around 160 MWh of storage capacity, according to the determination. BESS will be charged during high daytime variable renewable energy generation and discharge electricity during higher net-demand hours.
NEPRA said, “The Authority considers limiting the mandatory BESS requirement to solar and wind justified by their contribution to the identified duck-curve, ramping and curtailment concerns.”
NEPRA has directed the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) to incorporate the approved changes into the auction’s request for proposals and related documents.
The move is also consistent with Pakistan’s longer-term grid planning. NEPRA’s Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP) 2025-35 identifies a system-level BESS power requirement of 600 MW by 2030, including 350 MW in the north and 250 MW in the south.
A TaiyangNews analysis earlier this year found demand for BESS increasing in recent years as both households and commercial users adopt it as a cost-mitigation and reliability tool as they deal with frequent outages and fluctuations (see Pakistan: Rooftop Solar Helps Tackle Fuel Supply Disruptions).
Pakistan’s energy storage market is also expanding, as lithium-ion BESS imports jumped 220% YoY to 4.6 GWh in 2025, spurred also by falling battery prices (see Pakistan BESS Imports Surge 220% To 4.6 GWh In 2025).
Pakistan’s neighbor India is also contemplating making 10% minimum storage capacity for new solar and wind projects mandatory from 2027 (see India May Mandate Storage For Solar, Wind Projects From 2027).
