According to an official of the solar technology company LONGi, dishonest traders are flooding the market with B-grade and C-grade solar panels, often passing them off as authentic A-grade products from reputable companies. This is because Pakistan aims to source 30% of its power from renewable sources by 2030.

Not only do these fake goods fall short of expectations, but they also undermine public trust in solar power at a time when the country is largely dependent on it for a greener and more sustainable future.

According to CEO Muhammad Faisal Zynergy Solutions, solar panels fall into three categories on the market. The best-performing and most dependable panels are those in the A category. Manufacturers are offering a 25-year warranty for this particular A-category alone.

“Those are flawless panels,” he declared. However, B- and C-category panels are faulty and ineffective.

In order to obtain A-category solar panels, the public should only install solar projects from Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) licensed solar companies. Muhammad Faisal advised making sure the company you are working with is legal.

He advised customers to import solar panels directly from the manufacturer with the necessary legal papers and to only purchase them from licensed merchants.

The CEO of Zynergy Solutions stressed that even while solar panels are inexpensive, consumers should resist the urge to spend their money on B- or C-category panels and should only purchase from licensed businesses.

The LONGi official stated that this has had a direct effect on our solar panel manufacturing industry, since our brand name is being abused to promote inferior goods. A 157-point checklist and a special panel verification procedure are just two of the stringent quality control methods that LONGi has put in place to combat this. He noted that many purchasers are yet unaware of these dishonest tactics because consumer awareness is still low.

In order to control this issue, he continued, the government is stepping in through laws like SRO 604. The legitimacy of the solar business as a whole is jeopardised, however, if unapproved third-party merchants continue to elude these controls.

He stated that Pakistan’s objectives for renewable energy are significantly impacted by this issue. Consumers and companies may be able to escape the traps of fake solar panels if this topic is made more widely known.