TOPIC

ELECTRICITY SHORTAGE IN PAKISTAN

Alternatives And Evaluative Criteria

The electricity sector in Pakistan is currently facing the form Idabel challenges of an insufficient
installed capacity, a sub optimal infra structure, circular debt and revenue shortage. All of these
problems hamper socio economic activities.

Alternative energy development: according to the potential and recent progress in the
development of the four types of leading alternative energy resources in Pakistan, namely hydro,
nuclear, wind, solar and biomass.

1) Hydro
The northern areas of Pakistan are rich in hydropower resources. The total documented
hydro power potential in Pakistan is 60,000MW,of which the country is utilizing only
11% Presently, hydro power is the cheapest, most environmental friendly source of
electricity in Pakistan. It contributes 30% to the total electricity generated in the country.
Most of the potential hydro power sites in the country are centre don the Indus basin,
which contains some 800 identified potential sites (large-, medium- and small-sized)
where hydro power plants could be developed. Among the total identified sites, 134 are
already developed and operational, 151 are at various stages of construction and
planning, while there maining 515 may be developed in the future. The Gop plans to add
13 projects with a cumulative capacity of 20,733.4MW , which are currently at various
stages of project development and are in tended to be completed by 2023, and 11 projects
with 6564.65MW capacities that are ready with feasibility studies and now require
investments. The other six project sites with8680MWcapacitiesareidentified and
feasibility studies have been initiated .Hydro power is one of the oldest, most mature
alternative energy technologies in the world.
2) Nuclear
Nuclear power is another very important alternative source of generating electricity.
Pakistan was the 15th country in the world to use nuclear energy for power generation.
The present nuclear power installed capacity is 787MW and makes up only 3% of the
 power mix. The GoP plans to add 8800MW of capacity by 2030. Two 680MW capacity
projects are under-construction and are planned to be commissioned by 2016 and 2017.
In order to achieve the target of 8800MW of nuclear power generation by 2030, the GoP,
with financial and technical support of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC),
has recently inaugurated Pakistan’s largest nuclear power plant, the Karachi Coastal
Nuclear Power Project. The CNNC will supply two 1100MW ACP 1000 (the nuclear
reactor design) units and the project will be completed by 2019. The Pakistan Atomic
Energy Commission (PAEC) with the advice of the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory
Authority (PNRA) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has identified
six potential sites in various parts of the country. Nuclear power is technically a base load
electricity source and so can be considered a very good substitute for imported fuel-
based power generation. Pakistan has half a century of experience operating nuclear
power plants.
3) Wind
Wind power is the leading renewable energy source in the world. Pakistan is also blessed
with this source of energy. The GoP, with technical support from the National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL), mapped the wind power potential of the country. According
to the NREL survey, Pakistan has an overall wind power potential of 346, 000 MW. Most
of this potential exists on the hilltops of the southern, northern and western areas of the
country. Among these locations, southern Pakistan makes up the biggest wind corridor,
namely the Gharo-Kati Bandar corridor. According to estimates, the average annual wind
speed recorded in this corridor at 50 m height is 7 m/s, which theoretically provides a
gross wind power potential of 44,000 MW. Of this, 11,000 MW is exploitable at a 25%
capacity factor. This corridor has now become the centre of local and foreign investments
in wind power projects. Globally, the wind power installed capacity is 283 GW and it is
increasing rapidly to provide a clean source of energy in many countries. However, the
wind power installed capacity in Pakistan is only 106 MW, which represents just 0.5% of
the power mix. Conversely, neighbouring countries like China (76 GW) and India
(19 GW) are leading the world in this area and wind power has become a very important
part of their energy requirements . The GoP managed its first wind power project of
50 MW capacity with investment from a local private investor, the Fauji Fertilizer
Company Energy Limited (FFCEL). This project has the capability of producing
145 GW h/year, which is large enough to provide electricity to 30,000 homes. Another
project of 56 MW capacity has now been commissioned and financed by the Turkey-
based foreign investment company, Zorlu Energy. Moreover, the Alternative Energy
Development Board (AEDB) has recently announced a wind power park in Karachi,
 which will have a capacity of 2500 MW, and is seeking to attract indigenous and foreign
investment

4) Solar

Solar is the fastest growing and most prominent renewable energy technology in the
world. Solar technology can be classified into two types: solar photovoltaic and solar
thermal. The solar photovoltaic system is used to convert sunlight directly into electricity,
while the solar thermal system is utilised for heating and concentrating onto the receiver.
The focus of this section is on examining the development of solar photovoltaic system in
Pakistan, since it provides the option of connecting with the grid for its large-scale use.
An average solar power potential of 5.5–8 kW h/m2/day exists throughout Pakistan. On
average, solar isolation lasts for 321 (88%) days of the year and per day it remains for
8 h. Pakistan can utilise this long-lasting and natural source of energy to meet its long-
term energy needs, particularly in the off-grid and rural areas of the country where a grid
connected power supply is expensive or practically impossible . Previously, the use of
solar energy was limited to standalone applications in rural areas, home electrification,
irrigation water pumping, oil and gas fields, telephone exchanges, signal repeater
stations, highway emergency telephone exchanges, cathodic protection, and refrigeration
systems for vaccine and medicines in hospitals. However, 2015 marked a turning point in
the development of solar energy in Pakistan. Two major events are responsible for
increasing the penetration of solar energy in Pakistan. The first such event took place
during the visit of Chinese president on 20th April 2015. On that day the Chinese
president laid the foundation stone for a solar power project of 1.5 MW capacity, which
will supply electricity to the parliament house in the capital city, Islamabad. This project
is expected to be finished by the end of 2015 and will be the first large-scale project for
powering a public building to be accomplished . The second event took place on 5th May
2015 when Pakistan inaugurated its first grid connected pilot solar power project of
100 MW capacity in the desert area of Cholistan in the Punjab province. It is claimed to
be the largest solar power plant ever built . The provincial government of Punjab has
established a solar park, the Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park Company (QASPC), to attract
local and foreign investments. For the QASPC, 6500 acres of land has been allocated for
1000 MW capacity. Of this, the recently inaugurated 100 MW pilot solar power project
was financed by the provincial government of Punjab. After the successful inauguration
 of this project, it is reported that a Chinese firms has committed to invest in a 300 MW
solar power project.

Evaluative criteria

The hydro and nuclear resources can be considered to be at an advanced stage in terms of
technical expertise, cost and environmental impact. Pakistan possesses comprehensive
experience of operating and maintaining these sources of energy. These two alternative sources
can also be operated at a higher capacity than wind, solar and biomass. Therefore, large hydro
and nuclear power plants can be sustainable and secure energy options for the long-term energy
needs of the country. As wind, solar, small hydro and biomass sources can be finalised in 1–3
years, these sources can be suitable for the short-to medium-term energy needs of the country.
Moreover, the FiT regime has recently been implemented in wind, solar, biomass and small
hydro power development in the country. It is expected that the FiT regime will be very helpful
in increasing the penetration of renewable energy in the national grid.