'Alternative energy policy' draft sent to government for approval: AEDB chief

The draft of new 'alternative energy policy' has been sent to the government for consideration and approval, said the Director of Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB), Imran Ahmed in a meeting with business community on Friday evening.
Giving a presentation on alternative energy development at a meeting of Pubic Sector Utilities, Power and Gas Sub-committee of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), he said that the new policy was scheduled to be announced in January 2011 but it was delayed due to various reasons. He expressed hope that the government would soon give assent and the new policy would be announced soon. First policy was announced in 2005, he added.
Referring to the ongoing projects of alternation energy in the country, he said that all were set to achieve the financial close of 49.5 mw wind power project of Fauji Fertiliser Company within the next week. The financial close of three other projects of 200 mw of wind power is expected within this year.
He said that 5 investors have shown interest in 103 mw solar energy projects in the country. He said that the wind map, developed by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), USA, in collaboration with USAID, has indicated a potential of 346,000 mw in Pakistan.
Imran said that Gharo-Keti Bandar wind corridor, spread over 60 km along the coastline of Sind and more than 170 km deep towards the land alone has a potential of approximately 50,000 mw. He said that there are around one million agriculture tube-wells presently in operation and approximately 30 percent are electric-operated with the installed capacity of 2500 mw and consume approximately 15-20 percent of total energy delivered by the national grid.
The government is heavily subsidising electric tariff for agriculture tube-wells in many areas, putting additional burden on national exchequer on the one hand and inducing inefficiencies in water and energy usage on the other. Agriculture sector, having groundwater as the irrigation source, is worst hit by present energy crisis as the availability of grid electricity in remote areas is around six hours per day on an average.
Replacing/supplementing existing source of power for driving tube wells with renewable energy resources (solar and wind) can be a viable option. Sun is available for 300 days a year with 6-8 hours effective time in most parts of Pakistan. Similarly, considerable potential of wind energy is also identified in isolated corridors.
Both Solar Photo-Voltaic and Wind technologies can be used for this application. Solar Photovoltaic Panels can generate enough electricity to pump water from depth of 350 ft, 700 ft. Chairman of the sub committee, Dr Qazi Ahmed Kamal said that Pakistan has 1.1 million tube wells using 3000 mw." Converting them to alternative energy will provide us a relief of 3000 mw."