Guides · Faisalabad, Lahore, Punjab
Solar for Garment and Stitching Units
Short answer
A garment or stitching unit that works one daytime shift is one of the best matches for solar, because almost all of its power is used while the sun is up. Sewing machines, lighting, fans, steam irons and pressing tables draw power from morning to evening, so a correctly sized solar plant can carry a large share of that load directly. The keys are measuring your real daytime load, sizing to it rather than to your total bill, and deciding how the unit will run during outages.
This guide covers where the power goes in a stitching unit, how servo motors and irons affect the design, and how to size a system that pays its way under net billing.
Why stitching units suit solar
- Single-shift daytime work. Most units in Faisalabad, Lahore and the rest of Punjab run roughly 9 AM to 6 PM. That overlaps closely with solar hours.
- Steady, predictable load. Dozens of machines and lights running together give a smooth load curve without the huge starting surges of heavy industry.
- Units used on site are worth the most. Under net billing, each unit you use yourself saves your full tariff, while an exported unit earns much less. A daytime factory uses most of its solar output itself.
- Roof space. Many units are in sheds or on the top floor of a building with a usable roof.
For larger textile operations such as weaving, spinning and dyeing, read our guide to solar for Faisalabad textile, dyeing and loom units. This article focuses on cut-make-trim, stitching and finishing.
Garment and stitching units
Machines
Many small motors
Lights and fans
Long hours
Irons and steam
Heavy, short bursts
Where the power goes in a garment unit
| Load | Typical behaviour | What it means for solar |
|---|---|---|
| Sewing machines (servo or clutch motors) | Run all shift, many small loads | Good daytime match; servo motors cut base load |
| Lighting over machines | On all shift, often all year | Steady load solar covers well |
| Fans, exhausts and ACs | Heavy in summer afternoons | Matches peak solar output |
| Steam irons and vacuum pressing tables | Heater elements, high and steady | Large daytime load; check whether steam comes from an electric or gas boiler |
| Cutting machines, overlock, buttonhole, embroidery | Intermittent motors | Small share, but adds to peaks |
| Compressors (if used) | Cycle with demand | Steady in larger units |
Servo motors vs clutch motors
Older industrial sewing machines use a clutch motor that spins all the time the machine is switched on, even when the operator is not stitching. Servo motors only run when the pedal is pressed. In a unit with many machines, the difference in base load is noticeable.
For solar, this means two things. A unit with servo motors needs a smaller plant for the same output. And if you are planning to change motors, do it before sizing the solar, or tell us so we size for the new load. Exact power figures depend on the motor and the work, so we measure rather than assume.
Irons and pressing
Finishing sections can be the biggest single load. Electric steam irons, steam boilers and vacuum tables use heating elements that draw high power for long periods. If your steam comes from a gas or oil boiler, that load is not on your electricity bill and does not need solar. If it is electric, it is often the first thing that pushes a unit's load beyond what a small system can carry.
Sizing: daytime load first
New solar connections now come under NEPRA's net billing rules, notified on 9 February 2026. Imported units are billed at your normal tariff, and exported units are credited at a much lower rate. Solar capacity cannot exceed your sanctioned load, and net billing is for three-phase 400 V or 11 kV connections. See our net metering and net billing guide.
The method:
- Collect 12 months of bills. Look at monthly units and, if you are on an industrial or commercial tariff with MDI, the maximum demand.
- Work out daytime use. For a single-shift unit, most units fall in working hours. Subtract night security lighting, pumps and anything else that runs after hours.
- Allow for off days. If the unit closes on Fridays or Sundays and for Eid holidays, solar on those days is mostly exported at the low rate.
- Match the array to daytime use. Size so most solar output is used during the shift. Our guide to sizing under net billing explains each step.
- Check roof and sanctioned load. These may cap the size before your load does.
Solar Works Pakistan designs systems from about 6 kW upward. Very small home-based stitching setups usually fall below that and are better served by a home-sized system; see the solar system price guide to understand typical sizes.
Estimating the benefit yourself
We do not publish savings figures. The numbers below are round illustrative values only, not a forecast.
For example, if a unit uses about 3,000 units a month over 26 working days, and almost all of that is during the shift, about 115 units a day are daytime load. A plant sized to cover most of that would be used largely on site. Multiply the units solar actually covers by your full per-unit tariff to see the effect on the bill, then allow for winter, smog and off days.
Single-phase or three-phase?
Small stitching units are sometimes on single-phase commercial connections. Larger units run on three-phase. This affects both the inverter and net billing:
- A three-phase unit uses a three-phase inverter, which also balances machines and lighting across phases.
- A single-phase unit can use solar for self-use, but net billing currently needs a three-phase connection.
Our guide to three-phase vs single-phase inverters explains the choice.
Outages and backup
Load-shedding stops a production line and costs orders. How solar helps depends on the system type:
- On-grid: lowest cost per kW, but switches off when the grid fails.
- Hybrid with battery: keeps lighting, fans and some machines running through outages. Battery size sets how long and how much.
- On-grid with generator controller: for units that already run a generator, solar can share the load with it safely. See solar and generator hybrid.
Our guide to hybrid vs on-grid vs off-grid compares the options under net billing.
Demand charges
Units on industrial or commercial tariffs with MDI pay a fixed charge based on maximum demand. In garment units the peak usually comes when all machines, irons and ACs run together on a hot afternoon, which is also when solar output is high. Solar can therefore help with demand in many stitching units, as long as clouds or smog do not push the peak back onto the grid. Our MDI guide explains the calculation.
Fluff, dust and safety
Stitching and cutting release lint that settles on panels and inside inverter rooms. Keep inverters in a clean, ventilated space, plan a cleaning routine for the panels (see our panel cleaning guide), and keep cable routes clear of fabric storage. Correct DC protection and earthing matter in a building full of cloth. All tests needed for safe commissioning are completed before handover.
Garment unit solar price
Systems are quoted after a site survey and design.
| Scope | What drives the cost | Price |
|---|---|---|
| On-grid solar plant (per kW) | Panel and inverter brands, structure, cable runs | WhatsApp for today's rate |
| Hybrid system with battery (per kW plus kWh) | Battery size and backup loads | WhatsApp for today's rate |
| Generator controller (if needed) | Generator size and inverter communication | WhatsApp for today's rate |
How Solar Works Pakistan helps
Solar Works Pakistan is a Faisalabad-headquartered solar EPC, engineering and trading company, founded in 2021, with a branch in Lahore. We have served 300+ customers, including 50+ industrial clients, and our sector experience includes textile and loom operations. Our in-house engineers do the load analysis and design, and our own teams install and commission. Structures carry a 3-year Solar Works Pakistan structure warranty, and major equipment carries the manufacturer's warranty per product. See industrial and commercial solar.
Get today's price or a free site survey
Send us 12 months of bills, your machine count and your working hours. We will tell you honestly how much of your load solar can carry.
- WhatsApp or call: 0336 666 4321
- Email: info@solarworks.pk
- Head office: Main Boulevard, Sargodha Rd, Block F FDA City, Faisalabad (Faisalabad page)
- Lahore branch: 2nd Floor, Jeff Heights, Gulberg, Lahore (Lahore page)
- Hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, daily
We serve all of Punjab, and site surveys are normally free. You can also contact us online.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stitching unit run on solar?
Yes. A single-shift stitching unit uses most of its power in daylight, so solar can carry a large share. The grid, a generator or a battery covers cloudy periods and any evening work.
What size solar system does a garment factory need?
It depends on daytime units, machine count, irons, ACs, roof space and sanctioned load. We size from 12 months of bills and a site survey so most output is used during the shift.
Do servo motors save electricity?
Servo motors run only when the operator presses the pedal, while clutch motors spin all the time the machine is on. In units with many machines, this lowers the base load, so a smaller solar plant covers more.
Can solar run steam irons?
Yes, on a grid-connected or hybrid system, as long as the plant is sized for them. Electric irons and boilers are large loads, so they need to be counted in the design. Steam from a gas boiler does not use electricity.
Will solar keep my machines running in load-shedding?
Only if the system is hybrid with a battery, or integrated with a generator. A standard on-grid system switches off when the grid fails.
Do I need three-phase for net billing?
The 2026 regulations refer to three-phase 400 V or 11 kV consumers. A single-phase unit can still use solar for its own load without export.
Sources
- Net billing facts are carried over from our net metering and net billing guide, which lists its own sources, including the NEPRA (Prosumer) Regulations, 2026, SRO 251(I)/2026: https://ke.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/8.-NEPRA-Prosumer-Regulations-SRO-251I2026-09-02-26.pdf