Low-cost power to industrial sector: Punjab govt launches work on Canal Solar Project, BESS

LAHORE: The Punjab government has initiated work on the 92-megawatt Canal Solar Project and the 40-megawatt-hour Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to supply low-cost electricity to the industrial sector.

Provincial Minister for Energy Faisal Khokhar received a detailed briefing on the initiative, during which officials presented a modern model for installing solar panels along the 400-foot-wide Q.B. Link Canal.

According to the briefing, the project will generate affordable, clean energy as an alternative to costly energy. With an expected payback period of 4.5 years, it is projected to save billions of rupees. The initiative also offers major environmental advantages, including land-free installation, improved solar performance, and reduced canal water evaporation. The BESS component will ensure a stable power supply during peak hours and at night.

The minister expressed strong interest in the project, saying that it could serve as a model for reliable and affordable energy production. He said that sustainable, low-cost, and environment-friendly power is a top priority for the Punjab government and called for similar projects to be developed across the province.

“Providing low-cost energy to Punjab’s industry is our priority. For this purpose, small 1–5 megawatt plants should also be installed on canals near rural areas,” he said.

He directed Secretary Energy Dr Farrukh Naveed to prepare the first draft of the proposal, adding that renewable energy is the foundation of Punjab’s future and such initiatives will be advanced on a priority basis.

The meeting was attended by CEO of Quaid-e-Azam Thermal Dr Rana Abdul Jabbar, Additional Secretary Majid Iqbal, Managing Director of the Punjab Power Development Board Sania Awais, and other officials.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025