Skip to content

Solar Energy

Pakistan to pull solar energy into national power grid

Amid a worsening energy crisis, Pakistan has approved the use of grid-connected solar energy, rooftop solar installations and mortgage financing for home solar panels to boost uptake of clean energy in the country.

The government has also reversed course and eliminated a 32.5 percent tax imposed on imported solar equipment in the country´s 2014-2015 budget. The reversal aims to bring down the cost of installing solar panels.

The approval of net-metering – which allows solar panel purchasers to sell power they produce to the national grid – is a major breakthrough that could spur use of solar energy and help Pakistan´s government cut power shortages in the long run, said Asjad Imtiaz Ali, chief executive officer of the Alternative Energy Development Board, a public organisation.Read More »Pakistan to pull solar energy into national power grid

Solar energy strategy for Punjab

By Hassan Siddiq 

With its abundance of land, labour capital and entrepreneurs, Punjab in Pakistan is rich in all four factors of production required for economic growth. With a population approaching 100 million people, majority of which is young, and a GDP (Purchasing Power Parity basis) of nearly $300 billion, it has endless potential to grow exponentially over the next many years. However, the growth is being hampered by one single constraint: lack of energy. With a current demand-supply gap of about 4,000 megawatts (MW) in the province, the problem is expected to continue to exacerbate at the rate of 6.0 percent per annum in the business as usual scenario.Read More »Solar energy strategy for Punjab

ISLAMABAD: Installation of solar tube wells

 

NA body takes notice of extraordinary cost estimates

* Committee members asks when one solar tube well available at Rs 1.5m, why is Planning Commission estimating Rs 3m

By Sajid Chaudhry (Daily Times)

The National Assembly’s (NA) Standing Committee on Textile Industry was shocked to know the exorbitant price estimates of up to Rs 3 million each as estimated by the Planning Commission for installation of one solar tube well in the country.

The members of the committee challenged these estimates and were of the view that when this technology is available in the market at Rs 1.5 million as maximum price, then why the Planning Commission has fixed these estimates so high. Read More »ISLAMABAD: Installation of solar tube wells