A review of Solar Energy in Pakistan: Current Status and Future Prospects. | [Science, Technology and Development • 2017]

Author(s):

1. Farid Bakhtiar: Pakistan Council for Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

2. Aleem Ahmed: Pakistan Council for Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract:

From the past few decades, Pakistan is facing serious energy crisis, owing to heavy dependence on fossil fuels, depletion of local fossil fuel reserves at a faster pace, heavy burden on the national exchequer, due to import of oil, etc. Renewable energy, in general, and solar energy, in particular, has the potential to mitigate our energy problems. Although, Pakistan lies in the Sun-Belt and receives plentiful solar irradiation of over 2 MWh/m2 and 1500-3000 sunshine hours every year, unfortunately, we have not been very successful to harness solar energy to its full potential, due to different factors, such as, initial high cost associated with solar panels, maintenance issues, import duties, lack of supportive policies, lack of awareness and lack of R&D, in this specific area. Solar energy has the advantages of providing off-grid solutions to the un-electrified rural population, decreasing deforestation, energy security as solar energy is locally available, sustainable and need not to be imported, providing green energy, etc. The various applications of solar energy in Pakistan, include; photovoltaic and solar thermal application, such as, solar water heaters, solar cooker, solar dryers and solar desalination. Government has taken a number of initiatives for the development of solar energy in Pakistan. A number of national office buildings have been converted to grid connected solar energy. The first 100 MW solar power plant in the proposed 1000 MW Quaid-i-Azam Solar Power Park, has become functional. Other incentives include tax reduction on solar PVs and introduction of net metering systems, etc. Factors, such as, supportive policies, raising awareness, strengthening R&D activities and private sector participation in the solar energy sector, can contribute significantly to the development of solar energy sector to its full potential..

Page(s): 189-195

DOI: 10.3923/std.2017.189.195

Published: Journal: Science, Technology and Development, Volume: 36, Issue: 3, Year: 2017

Keywords:

Keywords are not available for this article.

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