ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan needs to explore the country’s potential for generating bioelectricity to overcome the prevailing energy crisis, WealthPK reports.
The country needs a constant supply of clean, affordable and reliable energy for sustainable growth and development. It is a common fear in today’s world that the fossil fuel supply is going to run out soon. The energy costs are also going to rise daily.
As one of the most sustainable, eco-friendly and efficient renewable energy sources, biomass can provide Pakistan with the energy it requires to meet the growing demand.
“Pakistan has the potential to generate bioelectricity through technology in order to overcome the energy shortfall,” an expert from the Punjab Bioenergy Institute at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, told WealthPK.
He said that renewable energy sources and technologies have the potential to provide solutions to long-standing energy problems faced by developing countries of the world. Pakistan is currently experiencing a genuine energy crisis.
“Every society depends on energy, which is essential for its socioeconomic development. Due to the fast-increasing population and improved standard of living, energy consumption is rising significantly with time. It is becoming increasingly difficult to meet the energy demand to support social development and economic progress,” said the expert, who wished not to be named.
He said that an uninterrupted supply of electricity is necessary to maintain ecosystems, enhance ecosystem development and guarantee an improved standard of living. “Switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is now more crucial than ever,” he added.
He said that Pakistan could also overcome its energy shortage by using renewable energy sources like biomass energy. “Currently, biomass is one of the most promising renewable energy sources because it generates a fuel similar to crude oil and natural gas. It has attracted a lot of attention. Biomass has the potential to play a significant role in meeting the energy needs of the current generation since it is solely dependent on the availability of raw materials,” he added.
The expert said that the use of energy increased significantly over the past century. Nearly all human activities now depend heavily on energy. Based on its potential and native status, biomass could be a practical energy source for Pakistan.
According to a study conducted by the Biomass Energy Technology Research Centre, biomass resources have the potential to generate 20,709 megawatts of electricity and 12,615 million cubic meters of biogas.
Pakistan annually produces 427 million tonnes of animal manure, 121 million tonnes of agricultural residues and 7.5 million tonnes of municipal cooperation waste (MSW). All of these forms of waste provide a variety of bioenergy options.
The current and projected energy needs for power generation and transportation of the country can be fulfilled by effectively using domestic biomass resources.
“The government needs to take all the necessary steps to ensure that the national grid is converted from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. We must proactively explore distributed and integrated renewable energy solutions,” the expert told WealthPK.
