By Naveed Ahmed

Pakistan can overcome the shortage of energy by exploring its ‘small hydropower potential’ and taking into consideration the findings of research on renewable energy, WealthPK reports.

According to estimates, Pakistan has more than 10,000 megawatts of potential for small hydropower. Approximately 90% of this potential has remained untapped. About 800 megawatts of electricity is generated through small hydropower potential (SHP) in the country. However, the performance of most of such projects is not up to the mark. The authorities concerned need to explore SHP to the desired level to overcome energy shortage in the country.

Engr Iqbal Hussain, Head of Micro Hydro at Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies (PCRET), told WealthPK that although there is a great potential for SHP in Pakistan, energy issues remains a challenge for the Pakistani economy. “Its main reason is a gap between the findings of research on renewable energy and policymaking. Policymakers must consider evidence-based research findings to utilise the maximum SHP potential,” he added.

Pakistan is known as the third pole of the world. It has a lot of SHP because of its geography, which stretches from the north to the south of the country.

Iqbal Hussain said that SHP is very high in the case of rivers in the northern areas because of the high speed of water flow. He said that SHP is categorised as any downstream hydropower plant with less than 30 megawatts of capacity.

He said that many proposals are being considered to explore the potential. However, the government must address issues such as connecting locally produced electricity to a national grid station and establishing a proper billing mechanism. These problems must be resolved as soon as possible to help the country to pay off its energy-related circular debt and become less dependent on fossil fuels.

Iqbal Hussain said that PCRET in collaboration with the National Research Institute for Rural Electrification (NRIRE) in China has planned many projects with the main focus on policy formulation, adaptability and the establishment of a national-level small hydropower standard system for Pakistan. He said that the proposed projects are meant to remove obstacles to the evidence-based research output’s incorporation into policy measures for the development and sustainability of SHP.

He said that policymakers should keep in mind comprehensive feasibility, proper planning, appropriate installation of electro-mechanical equipment, efficient administration and sustainability of programmes for getting long-term gains from energy projects.

In Pakistan, hydropower makes up only 27% of the total energy mix compared to 64% of fossil fuels. However, as per the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority, a large share of hydropower must be included in the energy mix by 2025 to achieve the goal of generating 26,000 megawatts by 2025 and 34,000 megawatts of electricity by 2030.

Iqbal Hussain said Pakistan lacks state-of-the-art factories to manufacture, fabricate and assemble hydro turbines and generators. The government’s plan indicates that there will be a greater focus on SHP development in Pakistan. As a result, Pakistan’s hydropower sector will attract huge investment from private and government entities.

“PCRET has also planned to establish a state-of-the-art electro-mechanical equipment manufacturing facility in Islamabad in consultation with the Chinese government. The project is meant to produce highly efficient turbines and generators per international standards at a low cost in Pakistan. It will also attract foreign direct investment,” he told WealthPK.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk