Solar power in Pakistan

Solar potential of Pakistan

Pakistan is a country in South Asia which built solar power plants in Pakistani Kashmir, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan. The program is under development by the International Renewable Energy Agency-Chinese, and Pakistani private sector energy companies.

On May 29th, 2012, Pakistan inaugurated the first solar power on-grid power plant in Islamabad. The Project named "Introduction of Clean Energy by Solar Electricity Generation System," is a special grant aid project of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under Coolio Earth Partnership. This project includes the installation of 178 kW photovoltaic (PV) systems each at the premises of Planning Commission and Pakistan Engineering Council, Islamabad which would cater to the needs of both, the Planning Commission (P Block), Pak Secretariat and Pakistan Engineering Council Buildings. The entire setup amounts to a total generation capacity of 356 kW.

This is the first on-grid solar PV project which has the arrangement of net-metering thereby allowing the beneficiaries to sell the surplus electricity to Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), the electricity distribution company of Islamabad Division. The Project is executed with grant assistance, worth 480 million Yen (approx. 553.63 million Pakistani Rupees) in three years of time commencing from 2010.[1]

Beaconhouse installed the first high quality integrated solar energy system with a 10 kW power generation capacity capable of grid tie-in at Beaconhouse Canal Side Campus, Lahore. It was a pilot project for BSS designed by U.S. consultants, based upon feasibility by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).[2]

50 to 100 MW of photovoltaics is expected to be installed in 2013, and at least 300 MW in 2014.[3] In May 2015, 100 MW of a planned 1,000 MW were installed in the Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park.[4]

Annual Solar Irradiation

Solar irradiance is very high in Pakistan, at 5.3 kWh/m²/day.[5]

Pakistan has also set a target to add approximately 10,000 MW electricity through renewable energies by year 2030 besides replacement of 5% diesel with bio-diesel by year 2015 and 10% by 2025.[6]

Government policy

Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, former Federal Minister of Water & Power announced on July 2, 2009 that 7,000 villages will be electrified using solar energy in the next five years. Chief Minister’s senior adviser Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa has also stated that the Punjab government will begin new projects aimed at power production through coal, solar energy and wind power; this would generate additional resources.[7]

The Government of Pakistan has allowed the provincial government of Sindh to conduct research on the feasibility of solar power. The government is planning to install a water filtration plant to make the seawater sweet through solar energy, said Sindh Minister for Environment and Alternative Energy, Askari Taqvi.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Pakistan gets first on-grid solar power station
  2. ↑ "The Beaconhouse Times Online - Solar Panels Installed at Canal Side Campus". Tbt.beaconhouse.net. Retrieved 2014-06-13.
  3. ↑ Punjab, German firm ink solar energy MoU
  4. ↑ "Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park: Solar energy’s 100MW to arrive in April". The Express Tribune. 27 March 2015.
  5. ↑ Potentials of Solar Thermal for Electricity use in Pakistan
  6. ↑ 7,000 villages to be electrified with solar power: Ashraf
  7. ↑ Dead link
  8. ↑ Dead link
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