2nd int'l moot in November to discuss wind energy potential of Sindh

KARACHI: An upcoming moot in November, 2017 will hold threadbare discussion on the vast and largely untapped potential of Sindh to produce thousands of megawatts of renewable energy using wind power as the occasion will be also be used to discuss in detail problems being faced by those attempting to unleash power of this clean energy resource of the province.

The occasion is 2nd International Wind Energy Summit being organized by the Energy Update on 22 November, 2017 at a hotel in Karachi. Likewise the first wind energy moot, its second edition is being supported and endorsed by World Wind Energy Association, Sindh government’s Energy Department, Alternative Energy Development Board, Govt of Pakistan, and similar concerned organizations of the power sector.

The summit will be addressed by renowned experts of renewable and conventional energy from within the country and abroad, representatives of companies doing projects of alternative energy, officials of different agencies and the regulator of the national power sector, and energy officials of both the federal and provincial governments.

A ceremony was held here at a hotel to do launching of the 2nd International Wind Energy Summit. The ceremony was jointly organized by World Wind Energy Association and Directorate of Alternative Energy of Sindh government.

Naeem Qureshi, chairman of the summit, informed audience of the ceremony that representatives of all the concerned stakeholders whether they be the planners and executioners of wind energy project, the relevant authorities of federal and provincial governments, the regulators, transmission and dispatch companies, and powers consumers would be invited to attend the summit.

The representatives of all these stakeholders would be given ample opportunity to speak at the summit and discuss issues and problems being faced by them to explore and tap vast resource of renewable energy available in the province.

Those who are likely to attend the summit include senior officials and executives of Sindh government’s Energy Department, Water and Power divisions of the new Energy Ministry of federal government, National Transmission and Dispatch Company, Sindh Transmission and Despatch Company, Central Power Purchasing Agency, Water and Power Development Authority, Alternative Energy Development Board, and most importantly of National Electric Power Regulatory Authority.

Mr. Qureshi said on the occasion that being organizer and host of the event it was his effort to finalize agenda of the summit in such a manner that it would cover and encompass all issues and challenges concerning renewable energy sector of the province in an effective and conducive manner.

He said the speakers and participants of the moot would be encouraged that besides discussing problems and issues they would also share with audience of the summit feasible and long-term solutions to challenges being faced by wind energy sector of the province.

He said the solutions, which would be suggested by speakers of the conference would be recommended to all the concerned stakeholders and decision-makers both at the levels of federal and provincial governments and also be sent to the power sector regulator.

It should be recalled here that Sindh has the potential to produce 5500 Megawatts electricity through renewable sources of energy. Sindh through solar power could produce 10 MWs electricity, 130 MWs of electricity could be produced through hydropower, while 1500 MWs of electricity could be produced through burning of garbage and other such renewable resources of energy. Sindh is the first province to reserve land to lease out plots to private investors willing to install projects of wind power there.

Moreover, Sindh has wind resource for approximate 30,000 MWs power generation but due to wind technology's variable load factor, the NTDC’s old grid is not equipped to take the variability load as the technology and equipment installed on it are not capable enough  Thus wind energy projects cannot produce more and are being heavily curtailed. For new projects the federal government is not willing to provide grid availability in advance to allow CPPA (Central Power Purchasing Agency) to provide power acquisition certificates to new wind projects. That is why the province has no new wind power coming in 2019 and or even in 2020 yet.

Some 15 wind power projects have already been installed at Gharo-Jhimpir wind corridor of the province having installed power generation capacity of 785 MWs while work is in progress on nine more such projects of wind power, which would produce 450 MWs on basis of alternative energy.

The launching ceremony of 2nd International Wind Energy Summit was attended among others by Special Secretary of Sindh Energy Department Rashid Kazi, Director Alternative Energy, Sindh Government Mehfooz Qazi, Zeeshan Ashar being representative of World Wind Energy Association, Engineer Nadeem Ashraf, Ruqaiya Naeem, and a representative of the United States Consulate General.