Pakistan currently has an installed solar power capacity of 6,000 megawatts. In the near future three more solar power plants with a cumulative capacity of 2,400MW (600mw, 600mw and 1200mw) are being set up, and sites have already been identified by the government to be given to the private companies for the investment. The competitive bidding process is expected to start by October 2022.
This was revealed by Shah Jahan Mirza, CEO Alternate Energy Development Board (AEDB) at the first ‘Annual State of Renewable Energy Conference 2022 (ASREC-22)’. He informed that by 2030, AEDB aims to increase renewable energy share to 60 percent with 90 percent of it being indigenous to reduce pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
During the conference Dr Hina Aslam Research Fellow, SDPI informed that 0.07% solar potential is enough to meet Pakistan’s energy demand. She informed that Sindh and Balochistan can produce 340GW wind and suggested recycling 30M mt municipal solid waste annually should be exploited to produce energy from waste. She said that like rest of the world, Pakistan experience 3.25% increase in renewable energy in 2021 and net FDI in power sector in 2021 was US$911.7 million, with much room for more and US$101 Billion target has been set by 2030.
