Pakistan’s unique climatic conditions and amazing topographical features make it a land of many wonders. The country’s home to some of the most unique and unexplored natural attractions and enjoys the availability of renewable energy resources in the form of wind, hydro and solar power in abundance. Pakistan receives sunshine for an average of eight to nine hours every day, which are ideal climatic conditions for solar power generation in substantial amounts. So, let’s get to know more about the production of solar energy in Pakistan and how can it help us out in making Pakistan clean and green.
IN THIS POST:
–More About Solar Energy In Pakistan
–Solar Power Projects in Pakistan
–Measures to Promote Solar Energy In Pakistan
–Uses of Solar Power In Pakistan
More About Solar Energy In Pakistan
Located in a region that receives a high amount of sunshine all year round, Pakistan has enormous solar power potential. The plains of Pakistan include the coastal areas in Balochistan and Sindh, upper and lower Indus plain, Salt Range, Balochistan and Potwar Plateau. Since the weather in this region mostly remain dry and skies remain clear during the most part of the year, these places receive solar power in abundance.
Putting it in numbers, these areas can receive up to 3000 hours of sunshine per year, which can be used as the perfect grounds for setting up the photovoltaic plants are perfect to utilize its true potential of solar power in the region. Balochistan alone has tremendous solar energy potential. According to research, the country’s overall solar power potential is around 1,600,000 MW, which can be sufficiently added to the national grid system to meet the country’s increasing energy needs.
Solar Energy Projects In Pakistan
Many local and international energy companies are working jointly and separately on different solar energy projects in Pakistan constructed on large and small scales around the country. Some of these solar power plants are being constructed under the banner of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in Pakistan.
Complete & Operational Solar Energy Projects In Pakistan
Making the best use of solar power in Pakistan, which is one of the most widely available types of renewable energy, a number of projects are now operational across the country. The table below has all the important details about these projects.
| Project | Location | Current Capacity (MW) | Status |
| Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park | Bahawalpur, Punjab | 400 | Operational since 2016 |
| Harappa Solar Pvt Ltd | Sahiwal, Punjab | 18 | Operational since 2018 |
| ENI New Energy | Bhit, Sindh | 10 | Operational since 2019 |
| Fauji Cement Co Ltd | Jhang, Punjab | 12.5 | Operational since 2019 |
Under-construction Solar Power Projects In Pakistan
Keeping in view the current progress, it is expected that renewable energy will have around 20%-30% share in the country’s total energy mix by 2030. Let’s take a look at some of the most important under-construction projects found in different for the production of solar power in Pakistan.
| Project | Location | Capacity (MW) | Status |
| Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park | Bahawalpur, Punjab | 600 (Remaining) | Under Construction |
| Scatec solar project | Sindh | 150 | Under Construction |
| Roshan Power Solar | Kasur, Punjab | 10 | Under Construction |
Some Recent Measures to Promote the Concept of Solar Energy
In order to create sustainable grounds for the growth of the renewable energy sector in Pakistan, the government of Pakistan, in collaboration with the Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB), has recently introduced the Alternative Renewable Energy Policy. According to this policy, the government will play a highly cooperative role with the prospective investors in the renewable energy sector in Pakistan by providing them the site, defining the type of renewable energy they need to produce. Moreover, the contract will also be awarded to the low bidders.
Another major development in terms of the production of solar energy in Pakistan is that the government has decided to install solar panels that will float on the waters of some of the major canals and dams in Pakistan to bring up the level of the overall contribution of alternative energy resources to country’s energy mix. Mangla, Tarbela, Ghazi Brotha, and Khanpur reservoirs, along with various canals are some of the water bodies to get floating solar panels under this initiative. Along with the generation of clean electricity, these solar panels will also bring down the evaporation levels from such water bodies.
Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL), one of the largest telephone and broadband service providers in the country has also decided to actively take part in the Clean and Green Pakistan Movement. This is why it has decided to put around 700 of its nationwide facilities to solar power. In order to fulfill this purpose, it has decided to install state-of-the-art solar power systems at its headquarters, telephone exchange branches and regional offices, which will result in the conservation of energy and provide support to the country in the environmental preservation while playing a positive role in the global energy crisis.
Solar Energy For Domestic, Industrial and Commercial Use
In today’s world, we can make use of alternative energy resources to power our homes, thanks to the availability of many home energy solution providers in Pakistan. Almost all of these companies offer solar power systems for domestic and commercial use while some also provide industrial energy solutions.
Some of the major energy solution providers in Pakistan include Nizam Energy, Premier Energy, Inverex, Solar Solutions, Cool Line Energy, Reon Energy Solutions, Solis Energy, Smart Solar, Pantera Energy and Buksh Energy. Most of these names have also been involved in utility-scale projects, working according to the latest Alternative Renewable Energy Policy. Before you plan to switch to solar power, here are a few things you need to know to install solar panels at your home.
This brings us to the end of our overview of solar energy in Pakistan. Do you think the available resources of renewable energy can be effectively utilised to cope up with the country’s ever-increasing power needs? Share your thoughts with us by emailing us at blog@zameen.com. We’d be waiting to hear from you.
On a side note, you might also be interested in reading about clean energy projects in Sindh. Also, get to know how tree plantation drives are being carried out across the country. Miyawaki Urban Forest, which is being planted in Lahore, is one fine example in this regard.
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