ISLAMABAD: Wind power now constitutes 1.23pc share of Pakistan’s energy mix and increased 0.46 percentage points by September 2017.
Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) set a target of 5pc for wind energy of the energy mix in Pakistan by 2030 and the recent indicator seems the target is on course to being fulfilled in the mentioned time, reported Express Tribune.
National Electric Power and Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) recently released data pertaining to power production for September 2017. Data revealed 141.6 gigawatt-hours of wind energy was produced in September 2017, up 0.46pc from same period last year (SPLY).
To control pollution and protecting the environment is critically important, as increasing production of energy using renewable sources to replace thermal power houses which have high carbon emissions from furnace oil and coal.
Data from National Forum for Environmental and Health (NFEH), Sindh revealed due to installation of wind-based power mills in Gharo-Jhimpir area has achieved generation capacity of 785.5MW from 15 projects, which have entered operational stage.
And nine other wind energy projects with capacity of 445MW are said to have achieved financial close and are in different phases of construction currently.
AEDB is supporting the development of another 10 wind energy projects in Sindh with an expected generational capacity of 1,200MW, which would see completion by end of 2019-2020.
Electricity regulator NEPRA has announced upfront tariff of 13.52 US cents per kilowatt-hour in April 2013 for wind-based power projects.
And several of the country’s largest business houses are diversifying their investments into renewable energy because of the attraction being offered, which includes high rate of return in dollar and euro parity.
NEPRA permitted 17pc rate of return on investments for wind power projects in the upfront tariff. Other premiums on offer include availability of carbon credits, protection against political risk, duty-free import of equipment, exemption from income, sales and withholding tax etc.
