Industrial · Faisalabad, Lahore, Punjab
Solar for Faisalabad Textile, Dyeing and Loom Units
Short answer
For most textile, dyeing and loom units, a solar plant pays its way by covering daytime process load, not by exporting power to the grid. The right design starts from a load calculation of your shifts, motors and machines, then decides how solar, the grid, your generator and, where useful, battery storage (BESS) should work together. That is industrial EPC work, and it should be engineered for your factory, not picked from a price list.
Why textile units suit solar
Faisalabad's textile sector runs on electricity and runs mostly by day. That matches the shape of solar generation well.
- Weaving and loom sheds often run long day shifts, with a steady base load from motors.
- Spinning units carry heavy, continuous loads from ring frames, compressors and humidification.
- Dyeing and finishing units run pumps, stenters, dryers and effluent treatment, plus large lighting and fan loads in sheds.
- Large roofs and sheds offer space for panels close to the load.
Power drawn from the grid at industrial tariffs is expensive, and generators cost more again per unit when diesel prices are high. Every unit of solar used directly in the factory is a unit you do not buy from the grid or burn fuel for. How much that is worth depends on your tariff, load and design, so we work it out per site rather than quote a figure.
Two Faisalabad dyeing units on solar
AA Dyeing
500 kW, Samundari Road, Faisalabad
SubhanAllah Dyeing
300 kW, Sargodha Road, Faisalabad
Start with a proper load calculation
A solar power system load calculation for a factory is more than adding up motor ratings. We look at:
- 12 months of bills. Units, maximum demand (MDI) and seasonal pattern.
- Connected load and sanctioned load. What is installed, and what your connection allows.
- Shift pattern. Day-only, two shifts or 24-hour operation.
- Load profile through the day. Ideally from a data logger, or from the meter's load data where available.
- Motor starting and process loads. Large motors, compressors and dryers create starting surges.
- Generator use. How many hours, at what load, and which loads it carries.
- Expansion plans. New looms or a new shed change the design.
From this we size the array so most of the solar is used inside the factory during working hours. Oversizing a plant only to export surplus is usually a weaker case now, as explained below.
Net billing changes how factories should size solar
In February 2026, NEPRA replaced the old net-metering regulations with new prosumer regulations based on net billing. Under the reported terms:
- exported surplus is credited at the national average energy purchase price, reported at around Rs 11 per unit at the time, rather than offset one-to-one against imported units;
- imported units are billed at the consumer's applicable tariff;
- new agreements run for five years, renewable, instead of seven;
- existing prosumers keep their current agreements until they expire;
- the framework covers distributed generation up to 1 MW.
The practical point for a factory: a unit used on site is worth much more than a unit exported. Design should therefore aim for high self-consumption, which suits daytime textile loads. Our net metering and net billing guide covers the rules in more detail.
MDI: why solar alone may not cut your demand charges
Industrial bills include a demand element based on the maximum demand indicator (MDI), the highest demand recorded in a billing period. Solar reduces the units you buy. It does not always reduce MDI, because:
- a cloud, smog or a start-up surge can push demand back onto the grid for a few minutes;
- peaks often happen early morning or after sunset, when solar is low.
Cutting MDI needs load timing, controls or battery storage designed for it. Our guide What is MDI on your electricity bill explains this. Some industrial tariffs also charge more at peak hours.
Hybrid design: solar, grid and generator together
Many Faisalabad units already run a diesel or gas generator for load-shedding. A good industrial plant integrates it rather than ignoring it. This is a core strength of Solar Works Pakistan, with power-generation experience that goes back to the 1980s through our founder, Akram Ullah Khan.
A hybrid design can include:
| Component | Role in a textile unit |
|---|---|
| Solar PV | Supplies daytime process load directly |
| Grid | Supplies the balance and night load |
| Generator | Backup during outages; solar can share load with it under a proper controller |
| BESS (battery energy storage) | Covers short outages, smooths solar dips, shifts energy to peak periods |
| Inverters and controls | Three-phase string inverters, with controllers to manage generator and grid interaction |
| Monitoring | Remote view of generation and consumption, subject to equipment capability |
Running solar with a generator needs care. Without the right controller, solar can push power back into the generator or trip it at low load. We design the control scheme so the generator stays within safe operating limits. Solar Works Pakistan does not sell generators, but we integrate your existing set into the hybrid design where appropriate.
For three-phase factory loads, inverter choice matters. See three-phase vs single-phase inverters. We work with brands including Huawei and Sungrow for commercial inverters and BESS, alongside other approved brands. The exact brand and model is chosen per project and listed in the BOQ.
Where BESS fits
Battery storage is not needed in every factory. It earns its place when one or more of these apply:
- frequent short outages that disrupt looms or dyeing batches;
- high generator fuel use that solar plus storage can reduce;
- demand peaks that can be shaved with stored energy;
- export credit that is worth much less than imported power, so storing surplus for later use makes more sense.
Our guide Battery storage (BESS) for factories: when does it pay? walks through these cases.
Structures over sheds, and lint
Textile roofs are rarely simple. Many are sheet roofs, saw-tooth sheds or old RCC slabs carrying water tanks and ducting.
- Elevated and shed-mounted structures. Our in-house engineers design structures to carry panels over sheds without overloading weak roof sheets, and our own team fabricates and assembles them on site. Structures carry a 3-year Solar Works Pakistan structure warranty. See L2, L3 and elevated structures.
- Lint and dust. Spinning and weaving release fibre that settles on glass and along panel edges. Plan walkways, water points and a cleaning routine at design stage. Our solar panel cleaning guide covers safe methods.
- Heat and ventilation. Panels and inverters perform better with airflow. Inverter rooms should be ventilated and kept free of lint.
- Fire and electrical safety. Correct DC protection, cable routing and earthing matter more in a mill full of fibre. All tests required for safe commissioning are completed before handover.
How Solar Works Pakistan delivers an industrial solar plant
We are a Faisalabad-headquartered solar EPC, engineering and trading company, founded in 2021, with 50+ industrial clients among 300+ customers. Our sector experience includes textile, dyeing and loom operations. Projects run from about 6 kW to megawatt scale.
- Initial discussion and collection of 12 months of bills
- Free site survey (normally)
- Load analysis and feasibility
- In-house engineering and AutoCAD design, including structures
- Detailed quotation and BOQ with brand, model, quantity and warranty for each item
- Procurement and execution by our own teams
- Testing and safe commissioning
- Training and handover
- Monitoring and after-sales support from our own engineering staff
Major equipment carries the manufacturer's warranty for each product. Our own service warranty covers the first year under applicable project terms. After a complaint is registered, we target sending service personnel within 48 hours to begin diagnosis. Larger projects follow a project-specific schedule.
Read more on our industrial and commercial solar page or visit our Faisalabad solar company page.
Our textile projects in Faisalabad
- AA Dyeing: 500 kW, Samundari Road, Faisalabad.
- SubhanAllah Dyeing: 300 kW, Sargodha Road, Faisalabad.
Full project pages with photos and specifications are coming soon.
Get today's price or a free site survey
Send your last 12 months of electricity bills and a note of your shifts and generator use, and our engineers will advise on the right plant size and design.
- WhatsApp or call: 0336 666 4321
- Email: info@solarworks.pk
- Head office: Main Boulevard, Sargodha Rd, Block F FDA City, Faisalabad
- Lahore branch for central Punjab
We serve factories throughout Punjab, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, daily. You can also contact us online.
Frequently asked questions
What size solar plant does a textile unit need?
It depends on your daytime load, shift pattern, roof space and sanctioned load. We size the plant from your bills and a site survey so most of the solar is used on site. There is no standard size per loom or per spindle.
Can solar run looms directly without the grid?
Solar output changes with clouds and time of day, so looms normally run on solar together with the grid, a generator or battery storage. A properly designed hybrid system lets solar carry as much load as possible while the other sources cover the gaps.
Will a solar plant reduce my MDI charges?
Not automatically. Solar reduces units bought, but demand peaks can still occur when solar dips or outside daylight hours. Reducing MDI needs load timing, controls or BESS designed for that purpose.
Can solar work with my existing generator?
Yes, with the right controller. Without one, solar can cause the generator to trip or run unsafely. We design the integration so the generator and solar share load safely. Solar Works Pakistan does not sell generators.
Does lint from spinning and weaving affect solar panels?
Yes. Lint and dust settle on glass and reduce output. Plant design should include walkways and a cleaning routine, and inverter rooms should be kept lint-free and ventilated.
Is net billing worth it for a factory?
Export credit under net billing is worth less than imported power, so a factory gains most by using its solar on site. Net billing is still useful for surplus on holidays and low-load days. Check the current rules before deciding.
How long does an industrial solar project take?
Larger projects follow a project-specific engineering and execution schedule agreed in the quotation. We focus on quick execution, but timing depends on design, payment milestones, equipment availability and site readiness.
Sources
- The News, "Govt ends net metering, shifts rooftop solar to net billing" (Feb 2026)
- Aaj News, "NEPRA enforces new net metering rules, shifts consumers to net billing system" (9 Feb 2026)
- Profit (Pakistan Today), APTMA on removing the industrial peak-hour tariff (Apr 2025)