""You could go to your local bodega, buy a solar panel and charge controller and a battery, and install it yourself. It was so cheap that people were able to do it with discretionary funds, $50 that they had.""
""A grassroots DIY movement quickly grew. Self-taught solar entrepreneurs learned about installation and repair on YouTube and in local WhatsApp groups.""
""Last year, the country was the second-largest importer of Chinese solar panels in the world. Ten percent of the grid shifted to solar in just a few years, driven largely by these small installations.""
Pakistan has transitioned to solar power amid rising oil prices and energy shortages exacerbated by the Ukraine war. High electricity bills, sometimes exceeding 30-40% of income, prompted individuals to seek alternatives. The drop in solar panel prices, coupled with easy access to DIY installation resources, fueled a grassroots movement. Many households and businesses adopted solar solutions, leading to a significant increase in solar energy usage, with 10% of the grid powered by solar within a few years, making Pakistan a major importer of Chinese solar panels.
Read at Fast Company
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