| Islamabad: Agora Energiewende, a Germany-based think tank, has indicated that Pakistan has the potential to generate at least 33,000 megawatts (MW) of green energy (solar and wind power), or more than 48% of the planned electricity production of nearly 70,000 MW in the next 10 years, news sources reported on March 12.
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The report has explored the avenues of renewable green energy sources and their potential in the overall energy mix of the country. The report has highlighted the resulting cost savings of 15% and emissions savings of almost 50% that will occur if new energy sources other than fossil fuels are explored. The report recommends that Pakistan needs to pursue a more ambitious plan to tap into its variable renewable energy potential, as it can generate 70,000 MW through wind and solar power in the next decade, which should be included in the National Transmission & Despatch Company’s (NTDC) 10-year Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCET).
The study also suggests pursuing a strategic reinforcement of road infrastructure and implementing a stringent and localised annual tender plan for auctioning out the 33,000 MW of solar and wind power over the life of the NTDC plan.
Read: Academia calls on SBP to fund green energy in the housing sector
The report has highlighted that the change in energy security will help in reducing Pakistan’s over-reliance on imported fuel that has historically jeopardised the country’s independent security and policy arrangements in the region. |
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