AEDB pursuing 35 solar PV power projects

The Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) is pursuing 35 solar photovoltaic power projects that would have a cumulative capacity to produce 1,111.44 megawatts of clean energy.

“Energy purchase and implementation agreements have been signed for three solar power projects including Apollo Solar Pakistan Limited (100MW), Crest Energy Pakistan Limited (100 MW) and Best Green Energy Pakistan Limited (100 MW) located at Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park Bahawalpur,” AEDB officials said.

“Moreover, six independent power producers (IPPs) with a cumulative capacity of 47.84MW have also obtained Letter of Support (LOS) from the AEDB. They include Access Electric Pvt (10 MW), Pind Dadan Khan, Bukhsh Solar Pvt (10 MW) Bahawalpur, Sanjwal Solar Power (5.04 MW) Sanjwal, Safe Solar Power Pvt (10.28 MW) Bahawalpur, Access Solar Pvt (11.52 MW), Pind Dadan Khan and Blue Star Hydel Pvt (1 MW) Pind Dadan Khan,” added the officials.

The Economic Coordination Committee has also approved the standard for the import of solar panels for restricting the import of sub-standard equipment (IPV panels and ancillary equipment).

Presently, the officials said, there was no laboratory for testing standard of solar PV panels; however, PC-1 had been prepared in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology for setting up three testing laboratories in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.

“Some solar projects are also included in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).”

Furthermore, a detailed resource assessment of wind, solar and biomass was also carried out in the country through ESMAP’s (World Bank) assistance.

The ground installation, for measuring the solar irradiation, has also been made in several parts of the country.

“The AEDB has issued over 25 Letters of Interest (LOI) to various solar projects having 663MW accumulative capacity so far,” said the officials, adding that all these projects would attain commercial operation date (COD) by 2018.

“The Punjab government has also issued LOI for different projects of 600MW out of which financing for 300MW has already been done.”

“The Quaid-e-Azam solar park is already operational and has been supplying 100MW electricity to the national grid system while another 300MW would be added to the system this year. The park would generate a total of 1000MW by 2017,” they added.