Launch of Renewable Readiness Assessment of Pakistan by AEDB and IRENA - Renewable Energy Can Build Prosperity and Improve Energy Security in Pakistan

 IRENA assessment shows Pakistan’s abundant renewable resources can boost power generation and energy access

 International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and Alternative Energy Development Board successfully launched Renewable Readiness Assessment (RRA) Report today in a ceremony held in Marriott, Islamabad. This RRA report has critically analyzed the renewable energy sector of Pakistan and has provided a comprehensive analysis of the country’s energy sector, valuable policy guidance and technical assistance to determine our best available renewable-based power options and identifies key actions to accelerate renewable energy deployment.

The RRA Report has stated that while hydropower has traditionally been the most prominent source of renewable energy in Pakistan — making up almost a third of electricity generation with 7.1 gigawatts of installed grid-connected capacity — IRENA’s assessment finds that the country has up to 60 GW of economic and technical hydropower potential. The assessment also identifies 50 GW of wind potential in Pakistan’s southern Sindh and Baluchistan provinces and estimates that 25 million tonnes of biomass feedstocks from industrial and agricultural residue can be made available for use, per year.

 The Director General IRENA, Mr. Adnan Z. Amin said during the launching ceremony that Pakistan is undergoing rapid economic and industrial development, which in turn is fuelling strong energy demand growth across the country. To meet this demand Pakistan has a tremendous opportunity to cost-effectively tap its abundant solar, wind and hydropower resource potential. Doing so would support national prosperity and job creation, whilst enhancing security of supply, improving access and moving Pakistan towards greater energy independence.

The CEO, AEDB stated during the launching ceremony that Pakistan is rich in renewable energy potential, and can with this assessment develop policies, investment opportunities and energy development actions to harness it. Critical to this report has been IRENA’s valuable policy guidance and technical assistance to determine our best available renewable-based power options. The CEO, AEDB also launched solar maps of Pakistan being developed under the ESMAP, with the support of World Bank.

 The RRA Report shows that declines in solar photovoltaic (PV) technology costs have supported the sector’s growth in Pakistan, with 400 megawatts (MW) of solar PV projects in 2015-2016, helping to create over 15,500 local jobs. In recent years, Pakistan has seen a surge in providers offering a range of solar home system products including solar water pumping systems, solar lighting solutions and solar water heaters. With more than half of Pakistan’s total population residing in rural areas, millions remain reliant on traditional biomass use. Among Pakistan’s rural population, only half have access to electricity.

 IRENA’s assessment presents options for Pakistan to strengthen its policy, regulatory and institutional framework in order to accelerate renewables deployment. It suggests ways to strengthen renewable energy targets, examines the constraints of existing grid infrastructure, highlights the best mechanisms to reduce costs and address technical challenges, and underlines the potential for private investment in renewables for off-grid and rural electrification.

 To further utilise the country’s indigenous renewable energy resources, the RRA Report of Pakistan finds that key challenges can be addressed by: 

• Setting a binding target for renewable energy development;
• Coordinating the development and implementation of an integrated energy plan;
• Encouraging renewable energy zoning and competitive procurement to reduce overall system costs;
• Involving the private sector in the development of transmission infrastructure to enhance the grid;
• Devising a comprehensive distributed power generation plan;
• Developing policy and regulatory frameworks and implementation mechanisms that facilitate private-sector engagement in rural electrification.

The RRA Report is available at AEDB website at www.aedb.org/publications and at IRENA Website at https://www.irena.org/publications/2018/Apr/Renewables-Readiness-Assessment-Pakistan

 UNIDO handing over the reports Policy review and recommendations on the promotion of renewable energy and engery efficiency in industries in Pakistan  to AEDB after successful completion.

The honorable Minister Incharge for Power, Power Division, Ministry of Energy, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari chaired a meeting in AEDB with the provisionally certified installers of AEDB for net metering installations. The meeting was attended by the representatives of the companies, Power Division, AEDB and PEPCO. This was the first official interaction of the provisionally certified companies with the Minister Incharge in which, the Minister Incharge briefed the representatives of the companies about plans, programs, ambitions, strategies and future prospects of promoting net metering in the country. The Minister Incharge urged the companies to develop their ambitious plans, marketing strategies, run their campaigns, and grab the business out of the opportunity created for them by the federal government. The participating companies appreciated efforts of the government in promoting net metering and showed full support in realizing program and targets set forth by the government for net metering promotion. The Minister Incharge hoped that with active participation, coordination and collaboration of public and private sector institutions soon the benefits of the net metering will be reaped and Pakistan will see a promising net metering applications in days to come. 

 In pursuant to the AEDB (Certification) Regulations, 2018 AEDB has initiated certification of vendors/installers/service providers for net metering installations for the benefit of the consumers.

• Fourty Two (42) vendors/installers/service providers have been certified under Category ARE-V2 till now after due process.
• One (01) vendor/installer/service provider has been certified (Provisionally) under Category ARE-V1 till now after due process.
• Eleven (11) vendors/Installers/Service Providers have been certified (Provisionally) under Category ARE-V2 till now after due process.
• One (01) vendor/installer/service provider has been certified (Provisionally) under Category ARE-C1 till now after due process.

The lists of vendors/installers/service providers will be updated from time to time with addition of new companies that fulfill the stipulated criteria.

Click below for download

1. List of Certified Companies under AEDB Certification Regulation 2018 (Category ARE-V2)
2. List of Provisionally Approved Companies under AEDB Certification Regulation 2018 (Category ARE-V1)
3. List of Provisionally Approved Companies under AEDB Certification Regulation 2018 (Category ARE-V2)
4. List of Provisionally Approved Companies under AEDB Certification Regulation 2018 (Category ARE-C1)