When two of Pakistan’s auto assemblers announced a few weeks ago that they would be unable to deliver car orders on schedule owing to a lack of semiconductor chips, no one could have predicted that it would even hamper their ambitions to have inexpensive power.
The worldwide chip scarcity has begun to plague Pakistani vehicle owners and families seeking to install solar panels to reduce their electricity costs due to skyrocketing power bills. According to industry participants, the scarcity has impacted costs as well as pushed back supply dates from four to six weeks.
Because “it’s a matter of national security,” more nations are seeking to develop their own semiconductor chips, which are in limited supply internationally.
South Korea, China, and the United States, according to media sources, have declared intentions to support semiconductor research and manufacture at home. While many businesses have recovered from pandemic disruptions, the solar industry may remain vulnerable for the foreseeable future.
Semiconductor chips, which are used in a wide range of industries such as automobiles and consumer electronics, are an essential component of solar inverters, which are an essential component of solar energy systems that convert solar power from direct current to the alternating current that we use in our homes.
The worldwide chip scarcity problem began in mid-2020 when governments began enforcing lockdowns to combat the Covid-19 spread. With more people living at home and working from home, the demand for gadgets and computer chips has risen.
Due to a significant increase in demand from the car sector in the second part of that year. Since then, the highly overburdened semi-conductor sector has battled to keep up with market demand from around 160 industries.
The worldwide semiconductor chip crisis is hurting the country’s supply chain and automotive production, as consumers suffer months-long delays in receiving vehicles. The chip crisis, which began in Asia in the first quarter of 2021, had a significant impact on the global car sector as demand for semi-conductors rose following the lifting of lockdowns.
The global supply chain disruption is unparalleled in its scope. “This epidemic is unlike any other catastrophe in our lifetime,” says Grant Anderson, VP Supply Chain of Jabil, a prominent global contract manufacturer.