Pakistan government has resorted to using solar energy to supply electricity to quell the energy crisis in the country.
According to the ECO Cultural Institute, quoting International Radio and Television Service in Islamabad, the country is currently facing a significant power surplus due to new generation additions and weaker than projected demand, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Pakistan needs to ensure it avoids a repeat of the boom-and-bust cycle of underinvestment in power generation followed by emergency capacity development that has characterized recent decades.
Solar and wind power is planned to be expanded to at least 30 percent of Pakistan’s total electricity generation capacity by 2030, equivalent to around 24,000 Megawatts.
Expanding renewable energy can make electricity cheaper, achieve greater energy security, reduce carbon emissions, and help Pakistan save up to $5 billion over the next 20 years.
Many sources of fossil fuel generation such as domestic and imported coal are no longer competitive and should be retired or significantly reduced.
Pakistan has tremendous potential to generate solar and wind power. According to the World Bank, utilizing just 0.071 percent of the country’s area for solar photovoltaic (solar PV) power generation would meet Pakistan’s current electricity demand.