Solar power in Pakistan
| Electricity generation in Pakistan |
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Pakistan has some of the highest values of insolation in the world,[citation needed] with eight to nine hours of sunshine per day, ideal climatic conditions for solar power generation. However, the country has been slow to adopt the technology.
The country has solar plants in Pakistani Kashmir, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan. Initiatives are under development by the International Renewable Energy Agency, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Chinese companies, and Pakistani private sector energy companies. The country aims to build the world's largest solar power park, the Quaid-e-Azam Solar Power Park (QASP) in the Cholistan Desert, Punjab, by 2017 with a 1 GW capacity. A plant of this size would be enough to power around 320,000 homes.[1]
Projects[]
Introduction of Clean Energy by Solar Electricity Generation System[]
On May 29, 2012, Pakistan inaugurated its first solar power on-grid power plant in Islamabad. Introduction of Clean Energy by Solar Electricity Generation System is a special grant aid project by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the Coolio Earth Partnership. This project includes the installation of two 178kW photovoltaic (PV) systems at the premises of the Planning Commission and Pakistan Engineering Council.
This is the first on-grid solar PV project that employs net-metering, thereby allowing the beneficiaries to sell surplus electricity to the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), the electricity distribution company of the Islamabad Division. The project was executed with grant assistance, worth 480 million Yen (approx. 553.63 million Pakistani Rupees) over three years commencing in 2010.[2]
Other projects[]
Beaconhouse installed the first high quality integrated solar energy system with a 10kW 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).[3]
50 to 100 MW of photovoltaics is expected to be installed in 2013, and at least 300MW in 2014.[4] In May 2015, 100 MW of a planned 1,000 MW were installed in the Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park.[5]
AEDB is pursuing 22 solar PV power projects of cumulative capacity of approximately 890.80 MW.[6]
1. The following Six (06) solar power projects of 430 MW capacity are operational;
| Name of Project | Capacity (MW) | Location | Date of Completion | |
| 1 | M/s QA Solar Pvt. Ltd. | 100 | Quaid e Azam Solar Park, Bahawalpur | 15 Jul, 2015 |
| 2 | M/s Appolo Solar Pakistan Ltd. | 100 | Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, Bahawalpur | 31 May, 2016 |
| 3 | M/s Crest Energy Pakistan Ltd. | 100 | Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, Bahawalpur | 31 Jul, 2016 |
| 4 | M/s Best Green Energy Pakistan Ltd. | 100 | Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, Bahawalpur | 31 Jul, 2016 |
| 5 | Harappa Solar Pvt. Ltd | 18 | Sahiwal | 14 Oct, 2017 |
| 6 | AJ Power Pvt. Ltd. | 12 | Pind Dadan Khan | 13 Dec, 2017 |
2. Four (04) IPPs with a cumulative capacity of 41.80 MW have obtained Letter of Support (LOS) from AEDB and are in the process of achieving Financial Closing of their projects
| Sr. # | Name of Project | Capacity
(MW) |
Location |
| 1 | M/s Access Electric Pvt. Ltd. | 10 | Pind Dadan Khan |
| 2 | M/s Bukhsh Solar (Pvt.) Ltd. | 10 | Lodhran |
| 3 | M/s Safe Solar Power Pvt. Ltd | 10.28 | Bahawalnagar |
| 4 | M/s Access Solar Pvt. Ltd. | 11.52 | Pind Dadan Khan |
3. Twelve (12) Solar PV power projects of 419 MW cumulative capacity have obtained LOI from AEDB and are at different stages of project development. As per the CCoE decisions, these 12 projects are required to participate in the upcoming competitive bidding to be carried out by AEDB.
| Sr. # | Name | Capacity
(MW) |
Location |
| 1 | IPS Solar Park- IPS 22 Pvt. Ltd. | 50 | Nooriabad, Sindh |
| 2 | IPS Solar Park- JA 23 Pvt. Ltd. | 50 | Nooriabad, Sindh |
| 3 | IPS Solar Park – SB 24 Pvt. Ltd. | 50 | Nooriabad, Sindh |
| 4 | R.E. Solar I Pvt. Ltd. | 20 | Dadu, Sindh |
| 5 | R.E. Solar II Pvt. Ltd. | 20 | Dadu, Sindh |
| 6 | ET Solar (Pvt.) Ltd. | 25 | Thatta, Sindh |
| 7 | ACT Solar (Pvt.) Ltd. | 50 | Thatta, Sindh |
| 8 | Janpur Energy Limited | 12 | Sultanabad, Rahim Yar Khan |
| 9 | Lalpir Solar Limited | 12 | Mehmood Kot, Muzafargarh |
| 10 | Siddiqsons Solar Ltd | 50 | Kalar Kahar, Chakwal |
| 11 | ET Solar (Pvt.) Ltd. | 50 | Fateh Jang, Attock |
| 12 | Asia Petroleum Limited | 30 | Bahalwalnager, Punjab |
Annual solar irradiation[]
Solar irradiance in Pakistan is 5.3 kWh/m2/day.[7] Pakistan set a target to add approximately 10 GW of renewable capacity by 2030 in addition to replacing 5% diesel with biodiesel by 2015 and 10% by 2025.[8]
Photovoltaic installations[]
| Year | Installations in MWp | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumulative Capacity |
Added Capacity | ||
| 2014 | 400 | Calculated back from 2015 added capacity data.[9] | |
| 2015 | 1,000 | 600 | Preliminary data.[9] |
Progress of Net-Metering in Pakistan[]
The progress of Net-Metering in Pakistan up to March 31, 2021 is 181.27MW.[10]
Government policy[]
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, former Federal Minister of Water & Power announced on July 2, 2009 that 7,000 villages would be electrified using solar energy by 2014. Senior adviser Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa stated that the Punjab government would begin new projects aimed at power production through coal, solar energy and wind power; this would generate additional resources.[11]
The Government of Pakistan allowed the provincial government of Sindh to conduct feasibility research. The government planned to install a desalination plant powered by solar energy.[12]
See also[]
- Renewable energy in developing countries
- Renewable energy in Pakistan
- Wind power in Pakistan
- International Solar Alliance
References[]
- ^ Ebrahim, Zofeen T. (2015-09-08). "World's largest solar park to light up Pakistan's future". Retrieved 2016-08-04.
- ^ Pakistan gets first on-grid solar power station
- ^ "The Beaconhouse Times Online - Solar Panels Installed at Canal Side Campus". Tbt.beaconhouse.net. Retrieved 2014-06-13.
- ^ Punjab, German firm ink solar energy MoU
- ^ "Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park: Solar energy's 100MW to arrive in April". The Express Tribune. 27 March 2015.
- ^ "Current Status". www.aedb.org. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
- ^ Potentials of Solar Thermal for Electricity use in Pakistan
- ^ 7,000 villages to be electrified with solar power: Ashraf Archived 2009-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Jump up to: a b "International Energy Agency, A Snapshot of Global Photovoltaics Market 2015" (PDF).
- ^ "Progress of Net Metering in Pakistan upto March 31, 2021". www.aedb.org. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
- ^ Dead link
- ^ Dead link
- Solar power in Pakistan