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‘Solar Park producing 12pc more power than target’

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‘Solar Park producing 12pc more power than target’
FAISAL ALI GHUMMAN — UPDATED ABOUT 2 HOURS AGO

LAHORE: The Quaid-i-Azam Solar Park, Bahawalpur, the first ever DC installation in Pakistan, is currently producing up to 12pc more power than the energy production requirements set by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra).

The first phase of the plant was completed in March last when it started producing 100 megawatt.

“The plant is giving an average yield of 169 gigawatt hour against the annual target of 153GW hour to meet 153 million units production requirement,” says Najam Ahmed Shah, the chief executive officer of the Quaid-i-Azam Solar Power (pvt) Limited.

More plants to work by year-end
Speaking to Lahore-based reporters at the site for the QASP on Tuesday, Shah said extra profits coming from the first phase of 100MW plant would be shared with the distribution companies and people under Nepra rules.

Responding to a question about controversies over the project, he said 1,000MW solar park only required capital expenditure in the form of financial loans as its production didn’t require any fuel while its maintenance cost was negligible. “The solar energy can be the cheapest mode of power in Pakistan if commercial loans are available on easy terms.”

Shah told a questioner that the solar panels spread across 500 acre produced maximum energy when sun rays were maximum and produced less power in high temperatures. He said the comparison of solar radiation and temperature in Pakistan with Germany suggested that panels in Pakistan would produce 33pc more power than Germany.

Dr Rana Abdul Jabbar Khan, focal person for QASP, told reporters that in first phase 100MW power had already been connected with the power distribution system while 300MW power plants were at final stage and expected to produce solar power by the end of December.

He said the remaining 600MW power plants would be set up in third phase starting in January 2016.

Dr Khan said the QASP would be able to get claim for carbon credit as the Clean Development Mechanism Additionality (CDMA) had also conducted analysis through on-site survey for our claim. He said the carbon claim was only linked with solar power generation as 70pc thermal generation in Pakistan was emitting high levels of carbon dioxide in atmosphere.

About solar power tariff controversy, Dr Khan said the present tariff was 14.15 cents which was expected to drop to single digit next year keeping in view the increasing trend of solar installations and production globally.

Earlier, briefing the journalists on capacity factor and energy production comparison, the CEO said the average efficiency of 100MW plant over the years was 80pc with average 20pc plant losses. He said the DC plant would suffer 20pc losses because of conversion into AC.

The monthly revenue (including tax) reached its peak of over Rs320 million in September from Rs3.548 million in March this year; 67.8 million units were exported against feasibility target of 64.9 million units and 62.2 million units Nepra target during cumulative energy production comparison for invoiced months. He said the cost of 100 MW solar plant is $131.15 million.

Comparing few countries for installed solar power and potential for solar in various countries, Shah said irradiation for 100 MW installed plant in Pakistan was 1,920 KWh/m compared to India’s 1,900 against 4GW installed capacity, China 1,700 (28GW), and Germany 1,100 (38GW).

The solar energy fits very well into Pakistan’s energy situation (fuel imports, land curve) while the country is a good location for solar energy (e.g better than Germany, Spain or China).

The visit to the site showed that the 100 MW solar power plant was injecting power into national grid through a centralised monitoring system while Chinese company Zonergy was currently raising PV plant and substations at three 100 MW plants each. A 220 KV grid station is being installed for producing and transmitting 600 MW next year.

The QASP is being guarded by 700 security officials of the Special Protection Unit headed by an SP rank officer. The SPU is giving outer and internal cover to 675 Chinese workers and few other foreigners.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2015
 
That's interesting, what if these plants move to thar or cholistan deserts? Will production will increase further?
 
‘Solar Park producing 12pc more power than target’
FAISAL ALI GHUMMAN — UPDATED ABOUT 2 HOURS AGO

LAHORE: The Quaid-i-Azam Solar Park, Bahawalpur, the first ever DC installation in Pakistan, is currently producing up to 12pc more power than the energy production requirements set by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra).

The first phase of the plant was completed in March last when it started producing 100 megawatt.

“The plant is giving an average yield of 169 gigawatt hour against the annual target of 153GW hour to meet 153 million units production requirement,” says Najam Ahmed Shah, the chief executive officer of the Quaid-i-Azam Solar Power (pvt) Limited.

More plants to work by year-end
Speaking to Lahore-based reporters at the site for the QASP on Tuesday, Shah said extra profits coming from the first phase of 100MW plant would be shared with the distribution companies and people under Nepra rules.

Responding to a question about controversies over the project, he said 1,000MW solar park only required capital expenditure in the form of financial loans as its production didn’t require any fuel while its maintenance cost was negligible. “The solar energy can be the cheapest mode of power in Pakistan if commercial loans are available on easy terms.”

Shah told a questioner that the solar panels spread across 500 acre produced maximum energy when sun rays were maximum and produced less power in high temperatures. He said the comparison of solar radiation and temperature in Pakistan with Germany suggested that panels in Pakistan would produce 33pc more power than Germany.

Dr Rana Abdul Jabbar Khan, focal person for QASP, told reporters that in first phase 100MW power had already been connected with the power distribution system while 300MW power plants were at final stage and expected to produce solar power by the end of December.

He said the remaining 600MW power plants would be set up in third phase starting in January 2016.

Dr Khan said the QASP would be able to get claim for carbon credit as the Clean Development Mechanism Additionality (CDMA) had also conducted analysis through on-site survey for our claim. He said the carbon claim was only linked with solar power generation as 70pc thermal generation in Pakistan was emitting high levels of carbon dioxide in atmosphere.

About solar power tariff controversy, Dr Khan said the present tariff was 14.15 cents which was expected to drop to single digit next year keeping in view the increasing trend of solar installations and production globally.

Earlier, briefing the journalists on capacity factor and energy production comparison, the CEO said the average efficiency of 100MW plant over the years was 80pc with average 20pc plant losses. He said the DC plant would suffer 20pc losses because of conversion into AC.

The monthly revenue (including tax) reached its peak of over Rs320 million in September from Rs3.548 million in March this year; 67.8 million units were exported against feasibility target of 64.9 million units and 62.2 million units Nepra target during cumulative energy production comparison for invoiced months. He said the cost of 100 MW solar plant is $131.15 million.

Comparing few countries for installed solar power and potential for solar in various countries, Shah said irradiation for 100 MW installed plant in Pakistan was 1,920 KWh/m compared to India’s 1,900 against 4GW installed capacity, China 1,700 (28GW), and Germany 1,100 (38GW).

The solar energy fits very well into Pakistan’s energy situation (fuel imports, land curve) while the country is a good location for solar energy (e.g better than Germany, Spain or China).

The visit to the site showed that the 100 MW solar power plant was injecting power into national grid through a centralised monitoring system while Chinese company Zonergy was currently raising PV plant and substations at three 100 MW plants each. A 220 KV grid station is being installed for producing and transmitting 600 MW next year.

The QASP is being guarded by 700 security officials of the Special Protection Unit headed by an SP rank officer. The SPU is giving outer and internal cover to 675 Chinese workers and few other foreigners.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2015
Solar Parks needs serious maintenance after few years and Pakistani record on maintaining thing not so impressive i will ask after two years where the solar park is. An expensive underdevelopment way to produce electricity and don't know why they are not planning for wind turbines which can be develop locally and maintaining cost is quite low.
 
This is a typical example of confusing the public. Who set the target of 153 gigawatt hr annual production target? This is only 17.466 MW power.

169 gigawatt hr =169,000 mwhr s. There are 365 x 24 hours in a year. This means the plant is producing 19.29 MW of power on annualised basis.

Normally one would consider that this is not good enough for 100 MW plant; still some people are jumping with joy, so be it. Go ahead celebrate 20 MW production from 100 MW plant.
 
This is a typical example of confusing the public. Who set the target of 153 gigawatt hr annual production target? This is only 17.466 MW power.

169 gigawatt hr =169,000 mwhr s. There are 365 x 24 hours in a year. This means the plant is producing 19.29 MW of power on annualised basis.

Normally one would consider that this is not good enough for 100 MW plant; still some people are jumping with joy, so be it. Go ahead celebrate 20 MW production from 100 MW plant.
the capacity factor of solar farms aren't that good. next 10 years you'll be seeing solar panels with efficiency of 40%+


take for instance Topaz. It's only generating 125MW of the 550MW on average.

Topaz Solar Farm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
the capacity factor of solar farms aren't that good. next 10 years you'll be seeing solar panels with efficiency of 40%+


take for instance Topaz. It's only generating 125MW of the 550MW on average.

Topaz Solar Farm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


I am not sure about 40% but about 30% is on the cards. My point here is a bit different.

Lot of hype was created when QA Solar was being built and it was inaugurated with great fanfare as if QA Solar Park was the panacea and Nawaz Sharif man of the hour.

PM Nawaz inaugurates country's first solar park - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

1st phase of 100 MW cost of $215-million or about $2.15-million per MW of the name plate capacity, which is almost twice the cost of a gas burning turbine power plant.

TBEA SunOasis wins Pakistan mega-solar project contracts | PV-Tech

However, actual production is less than 20MW on annualised basis; this translates into near $10-milion per MW of available power. Obviously Pakistan cannot afford such expensive power and because of this, of late the project has come under a lot of criticism.

If the target was actually 153 Gigawatt hrs why was not it announced at the time of inauguration? Naturally if it was made known that first phase of 100 MW capacity would only generate 18 MW; Nawaz Sharif would have been the laughing stock of the media.

Now Gov’t inspired writers are trying to confuse the public with quoting figures in gigawatt hours instead MW and making out as if QA plant operators are geniuses as plant is 12% over the target!

I wish politicians & charlatans stop trying to make fool of the public and at least occasionally tell the facts instead of lies and also that Pakistani public were less gullible.
 
That's interesting, what if these plants move to thar or cholistan deserts? Will production will increase further?
PV cells have Pmax value and are rated at STC of 25C.If your temperatures are above STC then the power output drops because the potential difference or Voltage drops.Manufactures provide this information in the Product Data Sheet documents.

In Layman's terms a PV Array installed in a colder climate will produce more electricity than the one installed in a hotter temperature,provided they receive equal amount of sunlight.
 
It has more to do with the duration of the sun light rather than heat, production will decrease in winter months with shorter days.

That's interesting, what if these plants move to thar or cholistan deserts? Will production will increase further?
 
Where there is corruption, nothing good be expected. There will only be corruption every where.
 
Ideal location for Solar project is Baluchistan desert 5% land should be reserved for solar collection
 

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