Globally, Variable Renewable Energy (VRE) reduces electricity generation costs, decreasing emissions of hazardous gasses and providing energy security. World Bank studies show the potential to use the VRE in Pakistan.
Pakistan is one of the 193 countries that have adopted a program based on 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to reduce poverty, a war against inequality & injustice, measures to face climate change up to 2030 and to achieve zero emissions by 2050. UN has declared 2012-2022 a decade as the “Energy for All.”
A study in 2021 showed that solar photovoltaic (PV) utilization in the country’s very limited area could fulfill the demand for electricity as Pakistan is blessed with a long and hot summer season but fulfills only 5% of its energy demand with VRE. Global Wind Atlas has turned the attention towards the wind resources in the south and west regions of the country.
Pakistan needed a proposal to start the VRE projects. World Bank conducted a study with the team of Tractebel(German engineering company) at the request of the Pakistan government in 2018 and suggested that Pakistan needed to expand renewable energy to 30% of total installed capacity, which means 24,000 MW by 2030 which will save up to $5 billion for fuel cost over 20 years. It requires an increase of 150-200 MW per month. Another study, “Variable Renewable Energy Locational Study,” named Balochistan the “Golden Goose of Pakistan” due to its western areas’ solar and wind resources. The study suggested developing solar and wind farms over 1000 km for high-voltage DC lines to provide power to the country’s other regions.
Pakistan has started a few projects in its different regions. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif held a meeting on Sunday with federal ministers Khurram Dastgir, Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Jehanzeb Khan (special assistant to PM), Adviser Ahad Cheema, and the officials of concerned departments. They discussed the importance of renewable energy projects as low-cost energy and environment-friendly. Presently, 10,000 MW renewable energy projects are under process. PM Shahbaz Sharif advised completing these projects as soon as possible and considered a further 6000 MW projects.