ISLAMABAD: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zones Development and Management Company (KPEZDMC) is considering solarisation of the newly established economic zones, WealthPK reports.
A spokesperson for KPEZDMC said that the matter was discussed in a meeting between the organisation and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (KPTEVTA).
He told WealthPK that both organisations discussed various aspects of the proposed solarisation of the economic zones. He said that solarisation would reduce carbon emissions and facilitate the development of the industry by providing uninterrupted power and cleaner energy.
“Keeping the environment in mind, KPEZDMC strives to provide clean and timely energy to the industry to reduce carbon emissions and contribute to a greener Pakistan,” he said.
Syed Mujahid Shah, a senior electrical engineer at National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK), told WealthPK that Pakistan is capable of producing and generating electricity via solar photo voltaic (PV). “As it is the cheapest source of generating energy in Pakistan, one can get a unit of electricity at as low as Rs4” he added.
He said that Pakistan now encourages microgeneration through PV because the country receives around one kilowatt of solar energy per square meter of its land mass for over six hours per day. The World Bank has also said that Pakistan has a tremendous potential to generate solar energy, as utilising only 0.071% of the country’s area for PV that can meet its current electricity demand.
According to WealthPK research, it is alarming that Pakistan is dependent on energy imports because it contributes to the rising current account deficit, which is a growing concern for the country.
In addition, Pakistan can save up to $5 billion over the next 20 years by extending renewable energy, achieving greater energy security and reducing carbon emissions.
Moreover, with the rising costs of electricity in the country and an interrupted power supply, Pakistan is investing in solar energy at the public and private levels. Many industries and individuals have switched to solar and many are considering it now. It is expected that this sector will grow significantly soon as the government of Pakistan targets at least one million customers and has planned to add approximately 3,000 megawatts of solar power.
According to the World Bank’s Variable Renewable Energy Integration and Planning Study, Pakistan’s target is to increase its renewable energy sources—solar and wind power—to 20% of its electricity mix in 2025, and 30% by 2030. “It is equivalent to around 24,000 megawatts and even shows that slightly higher penetrations of solar and wind would be economically beneficial,” says the study, available with WealthPK.
-INP
