LAHORE, Sept 30: The sale of solar energy home systems promising bill-free electricity to run low-energy home appliances has considerably increased in Pakistan during the first nine months of 2012, compared to the corresponding period last year.

The persisting power crisis and reduction in prices of solar energy equipment after introduction of Chinese products were the main reasons for the increase, Faisal Shazad, an expert on the sector told APP on Sunday.

He said the import of bulk solar energy equipment had started in Pakistan in 2004-5.

“At that time, the prices were out of reach of the common man as the equipment was being imported from the US and Germany. Later, China entered the market and prices of these items started coming down.

Now Pakistani manufacturers have also started making some electrical equipment used for the systems which has also played a role in reducing overall prices of the energy systems,” he elaborated.

He said climate in Pakistan was exceptionally sunny and use of solar energy made much sense for the local population.

“Country’s 70 per cent population lives in 50,000 villages that are far away from the national grid,” he added.

Top countries using solar energy are Germany (9,785 MW), Spain (3,386 MW), Japan (2,633 MW), United States (1,650 MW), Italy (1,167 MW), Czech Republic (465 MW), Belgium (363 MW), China (305 MW), France (272 MW) and India (120 MW), he said.