Advanced nations aren’t the only ones looking towards green energy. Developing countries are also joining the bandwagon with Pakistan investing in solar panels to supplement its energy production. The country isn’t the only one facing an energy crisis. The whole world is working to find clean solutions to power production as resources dry up and the cost of fuel reaches exorbitant proportions.
Solar panels require a one time investment. While the cost of PVs is pretty high, they don’t require too much maintenance and the returns are exceptional. Since the source of energy is the sun, all the cells need is a steady supply of sunlight. From there, it’s more or less free sailing and you can be proud of the fact that you’ve done your bit for the environment.
At present, Pakistan needs to generate about 16,000MW of power a day. However, it manages just 13,000MW, leaving 3,000MW that needs to be generated by other means, which it isn’t. The shortage leaves millions facing long power cuts of up to 16 hours every day. You can well imagine the condition of citizens reeling under power scarcity to bear the blistering summer heat and the cold winter months.
This energy crisis comes second to the country’s terrorism issue with voters voicing the same. The government too is becoming increasingly concerned and is looking at ways to supplement the country’s power needs.
Niaz Ahmed Kathia is the director of Alternative Energy Systems, who has advocated using the sun to combat the crisis. He said that if the country replaced a million of its tubewell pumps with PVs, around 7,000MW of energy could be saved. Most of the pumps run on diesel or use power from the national grid.
Pakistan’s prime minister has ordered solar panels to be installed in remote villages that can’t depend on the national grid. As it is, the country has already set up solar powered street lights and is conducting tests on the first on grid solar energy station, which will produce 178.9KW.
Via: Rawstory
