RENEWABLE ENERGIES / GREEN ENERGIES(SOLAR) (ParallelTechnologies)
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Last published date: 2024-01-12
Overview
AnchorThe energy sector in Pakistan poses a challenge to its economic development. The sector has made progress since 2013 in terms of power generation and reducing power outages, but it is still facing challenges due to the high cost of fuel sources, dependence on imported energy products, insufficient natural gas supplies, mounting debt, and outdated transmission and distribution systems.
According to National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s (NEPRA) 2022 yearly report, Pakistan’s total installed power generation capacity is 43,775 MW, of which 59% of energy comes from thermal (fossil fuels), 25% from hydro, 7% from renewable (wind, solar and biomass), and 9% from nuclear.
Pakistan is taking steps towards meeting its energy demands and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Government of Pakistan (GoP) is actively pursuing renewable energy investments on a large scale, as part of its clean energy goals. Pakistan has set a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, and clean energy expansion will play a crucial role in achieving this objective.
Wind Energy
AnchorPakistan has considerable potential for using wind energy in the coastal belt of Sindh and Baluchistan (in southern Pakistan). The GoP has developed a wind power energy corridor along the southern coastal regions of Sindh and Baluchistan. Wind data, provided by Pakistan’s Meteorological Department, measures Pakistan’s coastal belt at 60km (Gharo-Keti Bandar) and 180km long, with an exploitable potential of 50,000MW of electricity generation through wind turbines. Currently, 36 private wind projects are operating, producing approximately 1845MW. The Government of Pakistan renewable energy (RE) policy envisages generating 60 percent of the country’s energy from renewable resources by 2030. The ambitious target provides several opportunities for the wind energy market in Pakistan.
Small/Mini/Micro Hydroelectric
AnchorIn addition to large hydro, there are prospects for the development of small-mini-micro hydropower with a revised RE policy. The GoP considers small hydropower projects as a clean and inexpensive source of energy. Small hydropower projects are mainly located in remote areas of Pakistan particularly the North of the country. Recently, the GoP has identified new generation requirements by capacity, fuel technology, and utilizing indigenous resources for power generation by announcing the Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP). This plan aims to add 13,000 MW of hydropower capacity to the current 9000 MW capacity by 2030(.
Solar
Pakistan has an average of nine and a half hours of sunlight daily. Solar power entered Pakistan’s energy mix in 2013 after the government introduced a set of support policies to foster renewable energy development. According to the Private Power & Infrastructure Board (PPIB) of the Ministry of Energy, seven solar projects of 530 MW are operational and supplying electricity to the national grid.
With the rising costs of electricity in Pakistan and an unreliable grid supply, more industries and commercial organizations are turning to captive solar solutions. There has been a strong surge in domestic installation of rooftop photovoltaic panels in larger cities. For projects under 1 MW, net metering regulations came into effect in September 2015. The current state of the energy sector is promising for growth in solar power in the future. given rising fossil fuel prices.
Opportunities
- The most promising opportunities within this sector are:
- Solar Panels / Photovoltaic Panels
- Dry Batteries
- Inverters
- Wind Farm Equipment (especially turbines)
- Biomass Boilers
- Transmission Equipment
- Distribution Equipment
- Biogas Equipment
- Technical Consultancy
Resources
https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/pakistan-renewable-energy
Expanding Renewable Energy in Pakistan’s Electricity Mix
Solar and wind power should be urgently expanded to at least 30 percent of Pakistan’s total electricity capacity by 2030. Photo: World Bank
Highlights
- Solar and wind power should be urgently expanded to at least 30 percent of Pakistan’s total electricity generation capacity by 2030, equivalent to around 24,000 Megawatts.
- Expanding renewable energy can make electricity cheaper, achieve greater energy security, reduce carbon emissions, and help Pakistan save up to $5 billion over the next 20 years.
- Many sources of fossil fuel generation such as domestic and imported coal are no longer competitive and should be retired or significantly reduced.
Pakistan has tremendous potential to generate solar and wind power. According to the World Bank, utilizing just 0.071 percent of the country’s area for solar photovoltaic (solar PV) power generation would meet Pakistan’s current electricity demand.
Wind is also an abundant resource. Pakistan has several well-known wind corridors and average wind speeds of 7.87 m/s in 10 percent of its windiest areas. However, despite a number of successful projects, the installed capacity of solar and wind energy in Pakistan, at just over 1,500 Megawatts, is just 4 percent of total capacity, equal to around 2 percent of total generation.
Improving the quality of Pakistan’s power supply and strengthening the system’s security requires investment and operational changes. But how much variable renewable energy can the country’s power system absorb? What level is economically optimal?
These questions are addressed in our recently published Variable Renewable Energy Integration and Planning Study. The report was undertaken by the global engineering and advisory firm Tractebel Engineering GmbH over an 18-month period in close coordination with the Power System Planning Department at Pakistan’s National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDC) and other key agencies.
The study has helped provide the evidential foundation for the government’s Alternative and Renewable Energy Policy 2019, and the Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP 2047) submitted by NTDC to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) in March this year. It also confirms Pakistan’s target to increase VRE to 20 percent of its electricity mix by 2025, 30 percent by 2030, and even shows that slightly higher penetrations of solar and wind would be economically beneficial.
To achieve such targets, a massive and immediate expansion of solar and wind is required through competitive bidding which would decrease prices. Efforts to reduce power generation from uneconomic thermal plants (in particular heavy fuel oil) and continued investment in hydropower must continue as well.
The country is currently facing a significant power surplus due to new generation additions and weaker than projected demand, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Pakistan needs to ensure it avoids a repeat of the boom-and-bust cycle of underinvestment in power generation followed by emergency capacity development that has characterized recent decades. VRE represents a “no regret” option that can be developed relatively quickly and can displace fuel from inefficient thermal plants and reduce various cost and supply risks such as import dependency or delays of major hydropower projects. If VRE targets are met, up to $5 billion could be saved in potential fuel and other costs.
Share of Variable Renewable Energy (solar and wind) as a percentage of total installed electricity capacity
While there are strong national and provincial motivations for development of domestic coal in Pakistan, including local economic development, jobs, and increased energy security, the economics do not support such a strategy because of recent VRE cost reductions. The report suggests that domestic coal would not be added to the system until at least the early 2030s, and not at all when external costs such as GHG emissions are considered; imported coal remains uneconomic under all scenarios.
Supporting a transition away from domestic coal, for which there are a number of further projects in the pipeline, would be a strong candidate for “climate finance”, in particular supporting the grid investment required to facilitate a rapid expansion of VRE, and introduction of costlier technologies such as concentrating solar power (CSP) and battery storage, as well as increasing the flexibility of large dams where hydropower is often a by-product. Battery storage and flexibility measures would also help to avoid a major scale-up of open-cycle gas turbines, which might otherwise be required to provide reserves (with or without additional VRE capacity).
Achieving the proposed scale-up of VRE, equivalent to over 24,000 Megawatts of additional capacity by 2030, will require a coordinated and sustained effort by both the federal and provincial governments. Major investment is needed in the transmission system, including new automation and control systems, as well as regular rounds of competitive bidding based on a clear capacity expansion plan. The World Bank, working closely with other development partners, stands ready to support Pakistan in this endeavor, achieving the goal of affordable, reliable power for all by 2030.
This study was funded by the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and was prepared by Tractebel Engineering GmbH under contract to the World Bank.
Notes:
- This study is part of a series of technical assistance studies being implemented by the World Bank, including a “VRE Locational Study” and a “VRE Competitive Bidding Study”. The findings from these studies shall be published once they are finalized.
- The study utilized advanced modeling capabilities and the latest official data to analyze, at an hourly resolution, projected demand, supply from all sources (existing, planned, and potential), and their relative costs. The model then calculates “optimal” generation profiles for the study horizon, including high level representation of the transmission system (to consider the distribution of demand and available generation sources in different regions across the country) and how the power is dispatched. The latter includes the provision of sufficient reserves for the variability of VRE but also for overall system stability.
- The World Bank has provided $100 million of financing to the Sindh Solar Energy Project (SSEP), which is supporting utility-scale solar power, distributed solar on and around public buildings, and provision of solar home systems to households with low or no grid access. Further details here.
- The World Bank has also committed $425 million of financing to the National Transmission Modernization Project (NTMP), which aims at increasing the capacity and reliability of selected segments of the national transmission system in Pakistan and modernizing key business processes of NTDC. Further details here.
CategoriesCitadel 7
Renewable energy holds a promising future, especially in countries like Pakistan, the energy sector of the country is of vital importance when it comes to supporting existing and upcoming industries and residential and commercial properties. This blog highlights top renewable energy projects/developments planned for Pakistan.
However, in recent years there has been an emphasis on exploring, expanding, and production of renewable energies.
According to the records, around 10.57% of Pakistan’s total power generation capacity for 2020 came from renewables like wind, solar, and biogas energy.
Currently, we are working on hydroelectricity, with the help of dams available; by 2025, the ratio of renewable sources will increase by 20% and 30% by 2030.
The government takes important initiatives to redevelop and strengthen the country’s energy sector; the officials have already signed agreements, collaborating with MNCs and other governments to expand the horizon of this sector.
Pakistan’s Energy Sector & Its Future
Pakistan is considered the country with a positive forward thinking-nation working out for renewable energy’s sustainability, technological development, and innovation.
Pakistan has signed a pact with the UK-listed Oracle Power Public Ltd, to develop the country’s first-ever green hydrogen energy plant in Sindh. Also, China plans to sign a 3-year-long pact to establish regional green energy projects.
Scaling up green hydrogen will help Pakistan’s economy to achieve net zero emissions and limit temperature rises. Thus it is the most effective way to save the earth and energy, as a whole.
Let us explore and discuss the future renewable energy projects that the country is hosting – for better yet energy-saving tomorrows.
Solar Power Projects in Pakistan
Pakistan is potentially enough to generate solar power; according to the World Bank, only 0.071% of the country’s area is required for solar photovoltaic power generation – to meet the country’s current demand.
Talking about sunlight exposure, Pakistan has an average of nine and a half hours of daily sunlight. Since 2013, the country is producing solar energy, and several industries, commercial organizations, and even government buildings and different upcoming real estate projects are also planning to go solar, aiming to support the economy in managing power distribution.
Several solar power energy projects are in the pipeline, some of them are;
| Location | Capacity (MW) | Projects | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nooriababad, Sindh | 50 | 3 | Awaiting |
| Dadu, Sindh | 20 | 3 | Awaiting |
| Sultanabad, Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab | 12 | 1 | Awaiting |
| Mehmood Kot, District Muzaffargarh, Punjab | 50 | 1 | Awaiting |
| Noorsar, Bahawalnagar, Punjab | 50 | 1 | Under-developed |
| Gharo, Thatta, Sindh | 50 | 2 | Under-developed |
| Noorsar, Bahawalnagar, Punjab | 30 | 1 | Under-developed |
Wind Energy Projects in Pakistan
Wind energy is considered the most significant and sustainable for the survival of the growing population. Currently, wind energy is contributing 4% to Pakistan’s electricity requirements.
Well, the country has the potential to produce up to 340 GW of Electricity just from the wind, but if only planned strategically and utilized efficiently.
Another important yet favorable prospect of wind energy is the installation of wind turbines, which is economical, takes less space, and is easy-to-install, in windy areas.
Some upcoming wind energy projects in Pakistan are;
| Location | Capacity (MW) | Projects | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gharo, Sindh | 50 | 1 | Under-construction |
| Gujju, Thatta, Sindh | 14 | 1 | Under-assessment |
| Jhimpir, Sindh | 50 | 2 | Under-assessment |
| Jhimpir, Sindh | 51 | 1 | Under-assessment |
Micro-Hydro/Hydroelectric Power Projects in Pakistan
In Pakistan, out of 3000 MW Micro-Hydel, only 150 MW has been utilized. Not only these but there also are some small-micro hydropower projects, located in remote areas of northern Pakistan.
Recently, the government has identified the need for fuel technology and also how to utilize indigenous resources to generate power. They have announced Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP). The plan envisages the projects of an additional 13,000 MW of hydropower till 2030 with an existing capacity of 9000 MW.
Pakistan has always seen ups and downs in maintaining renewable energies; however, it is almost cyclical. These projects came into existence after the friendly government energy policies and incentives.
The Diamer-Bhasha Dam’s construction will add 4,500MW of hydroelectric power; the dam is expected to be completed by 2028.
Also, we have the Mohmand Dam project, aiming to add 800MW of hydroelectric power, scheduled to complete by 2024.
Even the installed capacity of Tarbela hydroelectric was increased from 1,410MW to 4,888MW. It is the fourth extension of the hydropower project. In the pipeline is the fifth extension, which will increase further capacity to 6,298MW.
By April 2022, the total share of hydroelectric power was around 25% (10,251MW).
All these projects will enhance the country’s potential for renewable energy, and strengthen the country’s economic backbone. Soon, if the progress continues, the country would be self-sufficient, and we won’t be buying renewable energy to manage our energy distribution.
Other Renewable Energy Projects in Pakistan
- Biogas Energy: In Pakistan, biogas is less preferred. In other words, the potential of biogas is taken for granted and underestimated. It is dubbed chiefly as “Gobar Gas,” just useable for cooking. Only 1000 household plants have been installed compared to 932,000 in India and 43 million in China.
- Tidal Energy: Tidal power still needs to be explored in Pakistan compared to other renewable energies. In Sindh, we have a creek system of the Indus Delta with immense five meters of tidal height at Korangi Creek. Another potential spot is at Sonmiani Beach and Kalamat in Balochistan with the prospect of tidal energy.
Potential Renewable Energy for Pakistan
Some of the other promising opportunities that can be leveraged to expand the energy sector of Pakistan are;
- Dry Batteries
- Inverters
- Wind Farm Equipment (especially turbines)
- Biomass Boilers & equipment
- Transmission Equipment
- Technical Consultancy
Wrapping Up
Pakistan’s energy sector is full of opportunities, the country is blessed with enough renewable and non-renewable resources, that need to be explored and utilized, for the betterment of Pakistan, the citizens, the economy, and overall global rankings.
Acknowledgements:
https://chakorventures.com/blog/top-renewable-energy-projects-in-pakistan/
https://mofa.gov.pk/pakistan-has-huge-potential-in-renewable-energy
https://lindyenergy.com/wind-turbine-technology/
https://www2.aerzen.com/en-ru/applications/biogasbiomethane.html
https://www.citygas.co.in/biocg/
https://www.envijaes.lt/en/blog/10_The-use-of-cogeneration-in-agriculture
https://www.doubtnut.com/qna/119575180
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