Pakistan can produce 150,000 MW of wind power

EVWIND

Pakistan has the potential of producing approximately 150,000MW of wind energy, says a recent United States Agency for International Development (USAID) report, which can fetch an investment of around two billion dollars. According to official estimates, the country has the potential to generate 143,000MW through solar and wind energy.

Currently, the country is developing wind power plants in Jhimpir, Gharo, Keti Bandar and Bin Qasim in Sindh, which will not only reduce electricity shortages but will also help ease the burden of oil imports costing the national exchequer over $12 billion annually.

The fair category of wind speed in most parts of the world is between 6.2m/s and 6.9m/s. However, the wind speed in the Sindh corridor is stronger and stands in the category of 7.5m/s and 7.7m/s. The government plans to achieve up to 2,500MW from wind energy by the end of 2015.

Work on Zorlu energy wind power project with a 50MW generation capacity is underway in Jhimpir and will start trial production soon. Pakistan’s Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) recently approved a New Park Energy Phase-I, 400MW wind project near Port Qasim.

According to a study, Pakistan has identified cumulative potential to generate 3.2 million MW from renewable energy resources 340,000MW from wind, 2.9 million MW from solar, 50,000MW from hydro (large), 3,100MW from hydro (small), 1,800MW from bagasses cogeneration and 500MW from waste.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/