Alternative Energy In Pakistan - Projects And News

[A.Rafay]

We are living in an era of energy shortage. At a time of increased prices, rising inflation, diminishing resources and intense global demand for energy, we need to have options and must continue to research ways to meet challenges. Renewable energy technology is definitely one option that the country must look into closely.​

Gone are the days of cheap labour and resources to maintain a healthy standard of living, at optimum energy costs, which is why we must look into the depth of the energy crisis and identify solutions.
Biogas is a natural resource, abundantly found in forests, organic industrial waste along with human and animal waste. It can be recycled to produce efficient and usable energy.
By converting animal waste into methane bio-gas, hundreds of cows can generate over hundred billion kilowatts of energy, enough to power millions of homes across the country. One cow alone can produce enough waste in one day to generate 3 kilowatt hours of electricity whereas only 2.4 kilowatt are needed to power a single 100 watt bulb for the day.
Moreover, converting waste to biogas leads to a decrease of global warming gases by 4%. Major benefits have been attained by many developing nations. In China, over 30 million households have applied biogas alternative energy, leading to reduced air and water pollution, saving money, improving hygiene conditions, producing high quality fertiliser, saving cooking time, saving time collecting firewood, using crop residue for animal fodder instead of fuel and improving rural standards of living.
In Texas, cow manure is being used to power ethanol power plants, where plants are saving almost 1,000 barrels of imported oil by switching to methane bio-gas. UK has introduced this concept recently in 2010, as many countries look inwards towards generation of energy through the agricultural sector.
Today biogas is running diesel engines, gas generators, kitchen ovens, geysers and other utilities in Pakistan. This process is feasible for small holders, with livestock producing 50kg waste per day, produced by three cows.
According to the World Energy Council, Pakistan started a biogas scheme in 1974 and commissioned 4.137 biogas units by 1987. These were biogas plants (small scale) with a capacity varying from 5 to 158 cubic metres gas production per day. Unfortunately, lack of funding resulted in early termination of the projects.
Till 2006, the government helped fund over 1,600 household biogas. By 2008, another 2,500 plants were installed after realisation of the importance of biogas came through following a study conducted in 2007.
The outcome of the study further revealed that Pakistan has one of largest unexploited biogas resources in the region with an estimated potential of over 5 million biogas digesters in the country, with the most optimum climate and temperature conditions, specially in areas of northern Punjab. At the grass root levels, over 6,000 digesters were installed all over the country, leading to the popularity of this method as a long-term viable solution. The credit goes to the PCRET – Pakistan Center for Renewable Energy who led efforts to boost this alternative.
In Pakistan, the initiative by the NGO called Initiative for Rural and Sustainable Development (IRSD) led to the installation of over 150 biogas plants with support from the UNDP small grants programme. Another NGO “Koshish” in Sialkot, Punjab has helped villagers set up 200 biogas plants successfully.
There is definitely a need in our country to improve conditions to let biogas production flourish.
The government needs to proactively assist by providing subsidies to build efficient biogas plants and by reworking the energy conservation bill, which is aimed at replacing old equipment and machinery to the rural farming communities with new technological gadgets. Banks and leasing companies should also venture into this market through microfinance schemes with an objective to create a more robust agricultural system, with abundant water resources and food for the cattle and livestock.
We must build the resolve to think on the way forward to find more natural means of energy conservation and optimum energy production for our potential future to remain a prosperous one.

 

[A.Rafay]

Wind Energy in Pakistan
Resource Potential
The wind map developed by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), USA in collaboration with USAID, has indicated a potential of 346,000 MW in Pakistan.

The Gharo-Keti Bandar wind corridor spreading 60 KM along the coastline of Sind Province and more than 170 km deep towards the land alone has a potential of approximately 50,000 MW.

30% ~ 32% Capacity Factor estimated in Gharo -Keti Bandar area.

Wind resource in Gharo ~ Keti Bandar wind corridor validated by RisO DTU National Laboratory,Denmark

Target
Atleast 5% of the total power generation from ARE sources by the year 2030.

Government Incentives
Government of Pakistan's "Policy for Development of Renewable Energy for Power Generation" offers the following incentives:

Wind Risk in Certain Areas (risk of variablity of wind speed).
Guaranteed electricity purchase.
Grid provision is the responsibility of the purchaser.
Protection against political risk.
Attractive Tariff (Cost plus with up to 17% ROE), indexed to inflation & exchange rate variation (Rupee / Dollar).
Euro/Dollar parity allowed.
Carbon Credits available.
No Import Duties on Equipment.
Exemption on Income Tax/Withholding Tax and Sales Tax.
Permission to issue corporate registered bonds.
Proposed Areas of Collaboration
Direct Foreign Investment : Participation of companies in development of wind farms through ***. Government of Pakistan shall provide full facilitation through AEDB.

Financing / Lending for Commercial Wind Power Projects: Banks and financing institutions may finance the commercial projects through dept and equity sharing.

Collaboration in Wind Turbine Manufacturing: Collaboration with Pakistani engineering industries for manufacturing wind turbines in Pakistan.

Current Status of ON-Grid Wind Power Generation Projects

S.No Company Location of Land
1 New Park Energy Pvt Ltd Gharo
2 Tenaga Generasi Ltd. Kuttikun
3 Green Power (Pvt) Ltd, Kuttikun
4 Dawood Power Ltd. Bhambore
5 Master Wind Energy Ltd, Jhampir
6 Zephyr Power Ltd Bhambore
7 Beacon Energy Ltd. Kuttikun
8 HOM Energy (Private) Ltd, Jhampir
9 Sachal Energy Development Pvt Ltd, Jhampir
10 Fauji Fertilizer Company Ltd. Jhampir
11 Arabian Sea Wind Energy Pvt. Ltd Lakha
12 Lucky Energy (Pvt) Ltd Jhampir
13 Metro Power Co. (Pvt) Jhampir
14 Gul Ahmed Energy Ltd, Jhampir
15 Zorlu Enerji, Jhampir
16 Wind Eagle Ltd. (Technology Plc Ltd), Jhampir
17 Wind Eagle Ltd. (Technology Plc Ltd), Jhampir
18 Sapphire Wind Power Company (Pvt) Ltd, Jhampir
19 CWE Jhampir
20 Abbas Steel Group Bhambore
21 Abbas Steel Group Bhambore

Feasibility Study
– Feasibility studies for 50 MW wind power projects submitted by thirteen (13) IPPs namely:-

1. Green Power Pvt Ltd
2. Beacon Energy
3. New Park Energy
4. Tenaga Generasi Ltd
5. Zephyr Power Pvt Ltd.
6. Dawood Power Ltd
7. Zorlu Enerji Pakistan Ltd
8. Fauji Fertilizer Company Ltd.
9. Arabian Sea Wind Energy Pvt. Ltd.
10. Makwind Pvt. Ltd.
11. Master Wind Energy (Pvt.) Ltd.
12. Lucky Energy Pvt. Ltd.
13. Sapphire Wind Power Company (Pvt.) Ltd

Generation License
– NEPRA has so far issued Generation License to following IPPs;

• Green Power Pvt. Ltd.
• New Park Energy
• Tenaga Generasi Ltd
• Dawood Power Ltd
• Zorlu Enerji Pakistan Ltd.
• Arabian Sea Wind Energy Pvt Ltd.
• Fauji Fertilizer Company Energy Ltd.

– Applications for issuance of Generation License of Sunnec Wind Power Generation Pvt Ltd is in process at NEPRA.

Tariff
– NEPRA has so far announced tariff determinations for five (5) IPPs.

S.No Name of IPP Tariff(US$ Cents per kWh) Date announced

• Green Power Pvt Ltd 10.2852 27 April 2007
• Dawood Power Ltd 11.87 6 December 2008
• Zorlu Enerji Pakistan Ltd 12.1057 23 May 2008
• Arabian Sea Wind Energy Pvt Ltd 11.92 12 May 2010
• Fauji Fertilizer Company Energy Ltd 16.109 10 Aug 2010

-Tariff petitions of one (1) IPPs is under process by NEPRA, namely;

Sunnec Wind Power Generation Pvt Ltd (2.4 MW)
Energy Purchase Agreement (EPA)
The standard draft EPA, prepared by AEDB, is under negotiations with NTDC by several IPPs, namely;

• Green Power Pvt. Ltd.
• Zorlu Enerji Pakistan Ltd
• Beacon Energy Ltd
• Fauji Fertilizer Company Ltd

Implementation Agreement (IA)
– The standard draft IA prepared by AEDB is being negotiated with several IPPs.

Letter of Support (LOS)
Two IPPs have submitted Performance Guarantees and subsequently acquired LOS from AEDB, namely;

• Zorlu Enerji Pakistan Ltd(56.4 MW)
• New Park Energy Ltd (50 MW)

 

[A.Rafay]

Zorlu Wind Farm (6MW) at Jhampir (Sindh)

Zorlu Wind Farm (6MW) at Jhampir (Sindh)

Wind Tubine Installed at Zorlu Farm

 

[A.Rafay]

AN OVERVIEW OF ENERGY EQUATION OF PAKISTAN
Pakistan’s commercially exploitable energy resources consist of coal, gas, oil, hydel power, nuclear power and a large base of traditional fuels in the form of fuel wood, agricultural and animal wastes. The current energy supply matrix is a composite of various technologies. Oil and gas form the bulk of primary commercial energy supply mix of Pakistan, contributing 75.3% (oil: 23.3%, gas: 51.6%, LPG: 0.4 %,) The othersources include; coal: 6.2%, hydro electricity: 11.3% and nuclear electricity: 1.2%

RENEWABLE ENERGY PROSPECTS IN PAKISTAN
Solar Energy
The provinces of Sindh and Balochistan are ideal for utilization of solar energy. In Balochistan, 77% of the population is living in the rural areas. The population density is very thin. About 90% of the villages are yet to be electrified.

Wind Energy
the coastal belt of Pakistan is blessed with a God gifted wind corridor that is 60 km wide (Gharo ~ Kati Bandar) and 180 km long (up to Hyderabad). This corridor has the exploitable potential of 50,000 MW of electricity generation through wind energy. In addition to that there have been some other wind sites have been exploited in coastal area of Balochistan and some Northern areas. Most of the remote villages in the south can be electrified through micro wind turbines. It is estimated that more than 5000 villages can be electrified through wind energy in Sindh, Balochistan and Northern areas.

Long Term Vision (upto 2020)
The high growth is expected and long term vision with minimum and maximum targets is as follows:​

 

[Dubious]

How effective is this Wind power?

Many say it can not produce much MW? as compared with the input ($$) or as compared to HEP or other forms of alternative energy?

 

[A.Rafay]

Wind Power Plants In Sindh​

WIND DATA COLLECTION​

Only coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan Provinces and some northern areas possess adequate wind resources.In first phase, wind mapping of coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan provinces was carried out.

The reports generated by the ministries identified that in Sindh Province, district Thatta, Karachi, Hyderabad and Badin and in Balochistan Province, district Gwadar and Makran Coastal Belt
possess prospective sites for development, installat ion and commissioning of wind farm projects.The available wind potential demands that
wind turbines of at least 750 kW capacity should be installed for power generation. The hub height of such turbines is nearly equal to 50m. In order to determine potential, the available wind data at 30m is being extrapolated.

IMPLEMENTATION OF WIND FARM PROJECTS​

The GoP has been planning to install first 50 MW[6] wind farm at Gharo area. The wind direction at the site has been determined and found out that maximum wind is blowing from southwest direction.

WIND FARM AT GHARO, PAKISTAN​

Gharo is small town located around 30 kilometers East of Karachi, Pakistan. This area is close to Pakistan Steel Mills that had a captive demand of electrical power of 210 MW for which the only
energy distributing company (Karachi Electric Supply Company) showed its inability to provide requisite power due to its acute shortage of electrical power in the city of Karachi.

Geographically, the site is located in such area where no developed infrastructure is available. However, site developments particularly required for wind farm projects can be done at site without disturbing the current site conditions. Moreover, population density is very rare, which minimizes all the expected negative impacts of wind power projects near to zero.

 

[A.Rafay]

How effective is this Wind power?

Many say it can not produce much MW? as compared with the input ($$) or as compared to HEP or other forms of alternative energy?

It depends on how many megawatts power plant you want to install, GOP Wants to install 75 MW and 50MW wind projects, Each windmill has a capacity of 1.5MW to 2MW, So you need 25 Windmills In an Area of appropriate winds to Get 50MW of electricity.Wind blows constantly on coastline of sindh and balochistan and these resources are being wasted over the decades But Windmills Will put them To Use!

New HydroPower Plants​

Gilgit Baltistan has maximum hydro electricity resources as compared to anywhere in the country. The major hydro electricity sites are as under:

Diamir Basha Dam - 4500 MW
Bunji - 5400 MW
Other small and medium size projects - 22,000 MW

Total Potential: 31,000 MW
Total estimated investment: 60 billion US$
Private Sector investment towards the development of hydro electricity projects particularly small and medium sized projects is required to harness the energy potential of Gilgit Baltistan since State funds are limited.

The region has an area of 72000 square kilometers and a population of nearly two million. It is a mountainous region and the population is widely scattered. A large number of micro hydro power station units have been established in the area. Some small i.e. up to 18 MW hydro power stations have been established on Naltar Nulla during the past forty years in the region mostly relying on foreign aid. Acute shortage of electricity and long periods of load shedding especially in the cold winter months is a common phenomenon. There is a local grid system of 33 KV and a 66 KV line in Gilgit

Generation from the hydroelectric power stations rapidly falls due to decrease in the flow in the winter season. This leads to severe power crises and shortages. A few diesel generators are available, which are operated during peak load time to augment the meager hydel generation at some important places only. But this costs the department 25 cents or more per KWh because of rising prices of diesel transported all the way from Karachi to Gilgit.

Due to non availability of reliable and continuous power supply, establishment of industries have not been possible. Unemployment is on the rise giving fears of social unrest as in other areas of adjoining Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa. Adequate availability of power will usher in industrial activity and the demand of energy and revenues both will then rise rapidly in near future. Gilgit is now Pakistan’s gateway to China along the Karakoram Highway. KKH is being widened to international specification to promote trade throughout the year and later become an energy corridor between China and Pakistan. Gilgit Baltistan has the best opportunity to be developed as a trade hub. Hence the need for timely provision of electric energy for establishing business and industry. Presently there is no industrial estate in Gilgit, which can only become viable by establishing new hydro power projects with private sector funding.

Resource Potential
The total hydroelectric potential in the country has not been fully investigated, but conservatively estimated to be 45,000 MW. This consists of all sizes of hydropower plants, including storage-based and high-head schemes on mountainous streams in the north and low-head, run-of-the river plants on rivers and canals in the southern plains.

Pakistan has an installed hydroelectric capacity of 5,928 MW of large (>250 MW), 437 MW of medium (>50 MW and <250 MW), and 253 MW of small to micro (<50 MW) plants, mostly in the northern parts of the country. This amounts to 6,608 MW of total capacity, or less than 15% of the identified potential

Current Status:
AEDB is actively working with AKRSP to install 103 Mini/Micro hydro power plants at Chitral and other places in Gilgit Baltistan. UNDP-GEF have committed US$ 1.00 Million for Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PURE) for which AEDB is the Implementing Agency.

National Biodiesel Program​

Realizing the importance of Biodiesel, AEDB outlined National Biodiesel Programme and decided to assist & facilitate the stakeholders involved for this purpose. AEDB formulated Policy Recommendations for use of Biodiesel as an alternative fuel which are primarily aimed at reducing the country’s fuel import bill. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Federal Cabinet has approved the Policy Recommendations for use of Biodiesel as an Alternative Fuel in its meeting held on 15th February 2008.

Pakistan State Oil Company Ltd.
AEDB has successfully engaged Pakistan State Oil (PSO) for furthering the National Biodiesel Programme. PSO has established Alternate Energy Department at their Head Office in Karachi. PSO has established a Jatropha Nursery and a Jatropha Model Farm at 22 acres land available at Pipri Marshalling Yard (PMY), Karachi.AEDB also provided a Biodiesel production plant to PSO for the optimization of Biodiesel processing techniques. PSO has processed and tested different Biodiesel blends on its fleet vehicles and generators.

PSO’s Jatropha Nursery at Pipri, Karachi

Seminar on National Biodiesel Programme.
AEDB organized a Seminar on “National Biodiesel Programme: Identification of Barriers” on 10th July 2009 at Islamabad. The Seminar was aimed to gather the public and private sector stakeholders in order to identify the barriers that need to be successfully addressed to propagate the National Biodiesel Programme on a commercial scale. These include feedstock options, regulations for certification of seeds opted for Biodiesel production, selection of appropriate land for energy plantations, buyback arrangements and pricing mechanism for Biodiesel & its various blends with mineral diesel. The recommendations of the Seminar will assist in consolidating the Policy & Regulatory Framework for Biodiesel currently being formulated by AEDB.

By organizing this Seminar, AEDB has made an attempt to highlight and discuss the important issues which need to be seriously considered by the Policymakers to ascertain that the National Biodiesel Programme becomes a success story.

Feasibility Study for Setting up Biodiesel Production Facility.
The Federal Government has assigned AEDB the target of gradual introduction of Biodiesel fuel blends with Petroleum diesel so as to achieve a minimum share of 5% by volume of the total diesel consumption in the country by the year 2015 and 10% by 2025. For this purpose, AEDB got approved a PC-II for undertaking a Feasibility Study to set up 10,000 Tons per Annum Biodiesel Production Facility. Funding for undertaking the feasibility study is being awaited.

Pakistan’s first ever Commercial Biodiesel Refinery.
Pakistan’s first ever commercial Biodiesel production facility has been setup in Karachi by M/s Eco-Friendly Fuels Private Ltd. This Biodiesel refinery has a capacity of producing 18,000 Tons of Biodiesel per annum.

AEDB’s Biodiesel Production Plant Operational at PSO Installations, Karachi

Jatropha Cultivation in Pakistan.
Experimental cultivation of Biodiesel feedstock on scientific basis has also been started. The cultivation has now risen from around 2 acres in 2005 to more than 700 acres in 2010. This surge in Jatropha cultivation is mainly based on aggressive campaign undertaken by AEDB. A number of institutions imported Jatropha seeds for germination from variety of sources and countries. They have been growing such nurseries at various sites in Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan.

PSO’s Jatropha Model Farm at Pipri, Karachi

Biomass / Waste-to-Energy​

Biomass/Waste to Energy has been recognized as a clean, reliable, renewable source of energy. Unfortunately in Pakistan this source of energy has not been utilized for power generation in the past. The growing urbanization and changes in the pattern of life has given rise to generation of increasing quantities of wastes and it’s now becoming another threat to our environment. However, in recent years, waste-to-energy technologies have been developed to produce clean energy through the combustion of municipal solid waste in specially designed power plants equipped with the most modern pollution control equipment to clean emissions. Biomass and waste to energy plants are used not only to generate sufficient power but also used to cleanup the environment as well by conserving non-renewable fossil fuel resources and reducing the environmental impacts of trash disposal. Biomass and waste-to-energy facilities can also contribute to the country’s economy by providing jobs apart from generating electricity.

High Pressure Boilers installed at Al-Moiz (DI Khan)

Biogas:
Biogas, one of the most significant types of biomass energy, makes optimal utilization of the valuable natural resource of dung. It provides (soot-free) clean gas for meeting cooking and energy needs as well as enriched bio-fertilizer for improvement of fertility/ productivity of agricultural lands. Promotion of the biogas technology seems to be one of the best options, which cannot only partially offset the fossil fuel from wood consumption but also facilitates recycling of agro-animal residues as a bio-fertilizer. Moreover, being clean and renewable, it will also contribute towards environment protection, sustenance of ecosystem and conservation of biodiversity.

Biogas has proved to be a viable technology in the physical and socio-economic conditions. Pakistan is rich in Biogas potential, the technology provides nearly three times more useful energy than that dung directly burnt, and also produces nutrient-rich manure. Besides production of Biogas, the Biogas Plants can result in improving economic and financial conditions at micro as well as macro level and abating emission of greenhouse gases that has been polluting the environment due to its direct exposure.

Some waste treatment methods / technologies used to produce gas & electricity are indicated below:

Through Gasification; electricity can be produced from hot gases.
Through Anaerobic Digestion; ggas can be extracted from the waste and can be used for the power generation purposes.
Converting the waste into Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF).
Through Plasma technology; electricity can be produced.
Technological Benefits:
i) Biomass and waste to energy plants conserve fossil fuels by generating electricity. one ton of MSW combusted reduces oil use by about 45 gallons; or coal use by about 0.28 tons.

ii) It has been estimated that one ton of MSW combusted rather than land filled reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 1.2 tons of carbon dioxide.

iii)Biomass and waste to energy plants do not have the aqueous emissions that may be experienced in landfills, either now or in the distant future.

iv)4. Biomass and waste to energy plants save the space required for land filling.

Environmental Benefits:
Biomass/Waste to Energy projects have the benefits over conventional energy resources projects that they do not emit any effluents, pollutants and residues. These are considered to be most environmental friendly technologies which are very much supportive in reducing emissions and developing healthy environment. All over the world, renewable energy projects have been implemented to avoid dependency over the conventional resources which have been a source of effluent emissions and endangering the environment. The international organizations and institutes including financing organization have been encouraging such projects which utilize renewable energy technologies for the generation of power.

Current Status
AEDB is actively facilitating public/private sector organizations for establishing and promoting biomass/waste to energy projects in Pakistan as one window facility.

• AEDB is developing national strategy, policies and plans for the utilization of biomass/waste to energy resources to achieve targets approved by Federal Government.

LOI issued to Lumen Energia Pvt Ltd for 11 MW Biomass to Energy Power Plant at Punjab.
AEDB has issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) to set up a 11-MW biomass to energy power plant at Jhang based exclusively on agricultural waste (cotton stalk, rice husk, sugarcane trash, bagasse, wheat chaff and other crops as multi-fuel sources). The plant would need about 90-110 thousands of tons of biomass fuel at 70-80 percent plant load factor in a year. Biomass supply agreement and logistic / shipping agreement with rice and sugar factories will be made with factories which are in the vicinity of the proposed plant site. The proposed plant will burn biomass as primary fuel whereas startup fuel will be RFO or diesel and the backup fuel would be coal.

The project is sponsored by Lumen Energia Pvt Ltd. The total cost of the proposed project has been estimated to be U.S $ 14.38 Million on debt / equity ratio of 80:20 and the company is looking forward to take loan from State Bank of Pakistan under their “Scheme for Financing Power Plants using Renewable Energy”.

LoI issued to SSJD Group for 12 MW Biomass to Energy Power Plant at Sindh.
The Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) is actively facilitating public/private sector organizations for establishing and promoting biomass/waste to energy projects in Pakistan as one window facility. AEDB is developing national strategy, policies and plans for the utilization of biomass/waste to energy resources to achieve targets approved by Federal Government.

AEDB has issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) to set up a 12-MW biomass to energy power plant in Sindh based exclusively on agricultural waste. The project is jointly sponsored by investors from US and local entrepreneurs the SSJD BioEnergy. The Project Feasibility Study has been approved.

LoI issued to Pak Ethanol (Pvt) Ltd. For Setting Up to 09 MW Biogas Power Plant at Pak Ethanol, Matli, Sindh.
AEDB has issued a letter of intent to M/s Pak Ethanol (Pvt) Ltd. to set up a 09 MW biogas power project at Pak Ethanol (Pvt) Ltd, Matli, Sindh.

Pak Ethanol (Pvt) Ltd is an ethanol distillery based on sugar molasses using state of the art technology to recover Biogas from Spent wash of distillery having a recovery of more than 80%. The recovered biogas will be used in gas engines having one of the best thermal efficiencies. In addition, the power generation capacity of 09MW, the plant will also produce steam & chilled water which will be utilized within the distillery to further improve the efficiencies

Guages installed at the latest 12 MW Turbine Gset

Environmental Benefits:
Biomass/Waste to Energy projects have the benefits over conventional energy resources projects that they do not emit any effluents, pollutants and residues. These are considered to be most environmental friendly technologies which are very much supportive in reducing emissions and developing healthy environment. All over the world, renewable energy projects have been implemented to avoid dependency over the conventional resources which have been a source of effluent emissions and endangering the environment. The international organizations and institutes including financing organization have been encouraging such projects which utilize renewable energy technologies for the generation of power.

 

[A.Rafay]

Pics of Jhimpir Thatta 50 MW Wind Power Plant By NORDEX Company​

 

[A.Rafay]

Pakistan started using renewable in sixties when 18 villages were electrified using photovoltaic, and solar stills were installed to desalinate the seawater at Gawadar, however the progress remained slow. The net installed capacity of different renewable energy systems are as under:

1. Installed 538 Microhydel Power Plants (5-50 KW capacity) with total capacity of
7.8 MW, 70,000 houses electrified,

2. Installed 155 small wind turbines (0.5 KW to 10 KW) with total capacity of
161KW in Sindh and Balochistan, electrifying 1560 houses and 9-coast guard
check posts,

3. Installed 300 Solar PV systems with total capacity of 100 KW electrifying 500 houses,
mosques, and schools, 265-street / garden lights,

4. Installed 4000 Biogas Plants (size 3&5M3/day: producing 18000 M3/day),
5. Developed 6-models of efficient smokeless cook stoves for cooking and space
heating,

6. 100,000 mud stoves have been built in rural houses; saving 36500 tons of fuel wood
per year,

7. Installed 21 solar dryers with total capacity of 5230 Kg/day fruit,

 

[A.Rafay]

Wind Power -A solution to energy challenges
Persistent shortage of electricity has adversely affected the economic growth and sustainability of Pakistan’s industrial and social structure. The situation has left no option, but to tap all available domestic resources to overcome this national challenge -and renewable options have been one of them.As part of its vision to make Pakistan self-sufficient in energy production, one of Pakistan’s leading enterprises, the Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC) ventured into the energy sector, by incorporating FFC Energy Limited, (FFCEL) on November 18, 2009. This venture has till date invested $134 million in this critical sector of the economy.FFC Energy Limited (FFCEL) is a special-purpose public limited company which has been established and incorporated under the Companies Ordinance 1984. It is a subsidiary of Fauji Fertilizer Company Ltd (FFC). FFC stands among the largest producers of fertilisers in Pakistan, with 48pc of the urea market share in the country. FFC is also among the largest Tax contributors to the national exchequer.FFCEL has the unique distinction of developing Pakistan’s first 50-Megawatt wind power project at Jhampir, District Thatta, Sindh, within record timelines. “This project is designed to play a revolutionary role in developing Pakistan’s promising wind power sector; while also at the same time give ample opportunities for Pakistani engineers and technology experts to playa role in nation building,” said Brig ® Tariq Izaz, Project Director, who has been the driving force behind the success of this venture.The project entered into technical collaborations during February 2010, with Nordex, a technology leader from Germany and Descon Engineering Ltd., These partners provided technological assistance in Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC), along with Operations & Maintenance (O&M). Nordex is world renowned for manufacturing Wind-Turbines and has created over 4000 Wind Turbines, with a total rated output of 5720 MW, already operating in 34 countries.Tariff approval from NEPRA was granted to FFCEL in June 2011, making it Pakistan’s first wind power electricity generation company to achieve Financial-Close. This Fast-Track project shall provide cleaner and sustainable energy to reduce the circular debt issue, since no imported resources are required to run the project for its lifetime. This project has marked the beginning of an era of renewable energy in Pakistan as the national economy cannot afford the ever-increasing costs of imported fossil fuels for long. All civil, mechanical & electrical construction works, including erection of 33 Wind Turbines, have been completed. Descon’s workshop in Karachi manufactured 80% of these turbine towers, thus becoming the first local manufacturer of turbine towers in the country. The project is well poised to achieve Commercial Operation Date within scheduled timelines. The project, once operational will be Pakistan’s 1st ‘Complete Project’ of this scale, in the field of Grid-Connected renewable energy in general and Wind-Power in particular. FFC also plans to expand the project capacity to the level of 200 Mega Watts in future. Besides wind power, it also has the technological acumen to enter into solar energy, which has now become affordable with great potential to playa significant role in the days to come.The Chief Executive and Managing Director of FFC, Lt. Gen. (Retd) Naeem Khalid Lodhi visited FFC Wind Energy Farm at Jhimpir recently and was briefed on the progress of the endeavor. He expressed his confidence and delight by saying; “It is a matter of a ‘push button’ to allow the country’s first wind-power project, having the capacity to add 50 Mega Watts of electricity into the national grid, probably sometime in October, 2012. This project enjoys a special significance, especially at a time when affordable power is a much sought-after commodity in Pakistan”.FFCEL’s management also understands the plight and problems faced by the local population, due to lack of economic opportunities. As part of its long standing commitment to the underprivileged communities, FFC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team, along with its partner NORDEX, has initiated a community uplift and support program worth US$ 100,000 for the year 2012 at Jhimpir and surrounding villages. Such programs have been actively deployed by FFC since 1982. This comprehensive CSR program primarily focuses on education, health care, clean drinking water, poverty alleviation, sports promotion, environmental protection, roads, disaster relief and rehabilitation for the deprived masses.

I request mods to make this sticky!

 

[A.Rafay]

ADB delegation visits Jhimpir windmill power project
KARACHI - A high-level delegation of Asian Development Bank (ADB) visits windmill power project at Jhampir town of Thatta District and expresses satisfaction over progress of the project which is scheduled to start producing 106 MW electricity per day from Jan 2013.
Zorlu Energi Group of Turkey and Fauji Foundation Company (FFC) have installed 33 turbines each at the site and would be operating these for next twenty years under the guaranty of Government of Pakistan.
In his brief comments to a group of reporters there,on Tuesday evening,leader of the visiting ADB team Maurin Sitours expressed satisfaction over the progress of the project and said the bank would continue its support.
ADB has provided dollars 58 million for this project, he said.
He said ADB was considering to finance more projects in Pakistan. Led by Maurin Sitours,the ADB team comprised Ashok Lahri from India, Kazuhiko Koguchi from Japan, Jerome Joseph Lous Destombes from France, Richard John Anthony Karol Edwards from British, Khin Khin Lwin from Myanmar, Siraj Shamsuddin from Pakistan. The team members were Executive Directors of the bank.

 

[Zed Sharif]

Dear, I have a question regarding Bio-fuels. We are developing a Lab with an Engine Test Bed (diesel) on which we want to test blending of fuels, bio/diesel. This is for academic purposes for Bachelor students. Please guide me in the right direction or where can I get more info? are there any suppliers in Pakistan for such endeavor?