Complete independence from WAPDA, FESCO, and load shedding. Whether you have no grid access at all or simply want total energy independence, this guide explains what off-grid solar costs, what it takes, and whether it is right for your situation.
No grid connection on agricultural land. Tube well motors, drip irrigation pumps, storage facilities. Off-grid is the only option. Typical system: 5–15kW panels + 10–20kWh battery.
Where WAPDA grid extension would cost Rs. 500,000–2,000,000. Farmhouses, holiday homes, guard posts, and rural businesses. Off-grid solar pays off in under 3 years vs grid extension cost.
In areas with 20 hours of daily load shedding, the grid connection is essentially worthless. A large off-grid system is more cost-effective than a hybrid system that relies on a grid that never appears.
Cold storage, food processing, pharmaceuticals — where a grid outage causes product loss. Off-grid sizing ensures zero dependency on WAPDA reliability.
| System Size | Panels | Battery Bank | Daily Output | Best For | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic 3kW | 5 × 650W | 10kWh (2 × Dyness 5kWh) | 12–18 kWh | Small farmhouse, pumps, lights | Rs. 900K–1.1M |
| Standard 5kW | 8 × 650W | 15kWh (3 × Dyness 5kWh) | 20–26 kWh | 1 AC home, tube well, farm | Rs. 1.3M–1.7M |
| Comfort 8kW | 12 × 650W | 25kWh (5 × Dyness 5kWh) | 32–40 kWh | 2 AC home, full independence | Rs. 2.0M–2.6M |
| Full Home 12kW | 18 × 650W | 35kWh (7 × Dyness 5kWh) | 46–58 kWh | 3–4 AC home, business | Rs. 2.8M–3.8M |
Prices include LONGi HiMo X10 panels, Solis hybrid inverter (off-grid mode), Dyness LiFePO4 battery bank, GI mounting, full BOS, and installation. Off-grid systems cost more than hybrid equivalents because of the larger battery bank required.
The battery bank is the most critical — and expensive — part of an off-grid system. It must store enough energy for the night plus 1–3 cloudy days as buffer. Here is how to calculate what you need:
| Load | Daily Usage | Night Storage Needed | 3-Day Buffer Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lights + fans + fridge only | 8–12 kWh/day | 5–8 kWh | 15–25 kWh bank |
| 1 AC (night only) + basics | 18–24 kWh/day | 12–16 kWh | 25–35 kWh bank |
| 2 ACs + full home | 30–45 kWh/day | 18–24 kWh | 40–60 kWh bank |
With Dyness LiFePO4 batteries (5.12kWh usable per unit): a 25kWh bank = 5 units; a 35kWh bank = 7 units. Sizing conservatively is important — running out of battery on a cloudy day with no grid backup means no power at all.
| Factor | Hybrid (8kW) | Off-Grid (8kW) |
|---|---|---|
| Panels (12 × 650W) | Rs. 290,000 | Rs. 290,000 |
| Inverter | Rs. 200,000 | Rs. 200,000 |
| Battery Bank | Rs. 170,000 (1 × 5kWh) | Rs. 850,000 (5 × 5kWh) |
| Full BOS + Installation | Rs. 170,000 | Rs. 200,000 |
| Total | Rs. ~830,000 | Rs. ~1,540,000 |
| Grid connection needed? | Yes | No |
| Works during cloudy days? | ✅ Grid backup | ⚠️ Battery only |
The Rs. 710,000 difference is almost entirely the battery bank. For most urban Pakistanis, a hybrid system is the financially smarter choice. Off-grid makes sense when either (a) there is no grid, or (b) you have a specific requirement for 100% energy independence.
Our engineers assess your load, location, and budget and recommend the right system type. Off-grid, hybrid, or on-grid — we install all three. Free consultation, no obligation.
For critical applications (cold storage, hospitals, continuous processes), a small generator as backup for extended cloudy periods is wise. For typical homes and farms with a well-sized battery bank, a generator is optional.
Yes. If your property gets grid access later, a hybrid inverter (which we use in off-grid mode) can be reconfigured to use the grid as backup. You do not need to replace the system — just connect the utility input on the inverter.
On fully overcast days, a 5kW system may generate only 20–30% of normal output. This is why the battery bank is sized with 3-day autonomy. Most of Pakistan sees 3+ cloudy days in a row only in December and January.
We use the Solis S6 hybrid inverter configured in off-grid mode. It controls the battery, prioritises solar, and cuts the grid connection (if any). The same inverter works for hybrid and off-grid — only the configuration changes.