1000 MW Qaid-e-Azam Solar farm | Updates & Discussions.

[cloud_9]

Canadian company to set up 500mw solar project

AN agreement was signed between Punjab government and Canadian Solar Company for investment in solar energy project, here Thursday.

Under the agreement, Canadian Solar Company will set up a 500 megawatt solar project at Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park. In the first phase, a 200 megawatt plant would be set up within a year while a 300 megawatt project would be completed during next two years. Canadian Solar Company would invest about 1.75 billion dollars in the 500 megawatt solar project while Punjab government would provide free-of-cost land. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Provincial Energy Minister Ch Sher Ali Khan, Additional Chief Secretary, Secretary Energy Jehanzeb Khan, Senior Vice President Global Head of Utility Solar Project of the Canadian Solar Company Charles Bai and other senior officials of the company were present at the signing ceremony.

Talking to media men on the occasion, he welcomed the agreement between Punjab and solar company of Canada for cooperation in energy sector. The Canadian company will make total investment in 500 megawatt solar energy plant. The CM said that the agreement of cooperation between Canadian Company and Punjab is a step forward. He said that Pakistan is relying on thermal power for electricity production and a sum of Rs 10 billion dollars is being spent annually on import of fuel which a poor country like Pakistan cannot afford. He said that prices of solar power plants are decreasing in the world; therefore, Punjab government is giving priority to solar energy projects. He said that during recent visit to China he visited various solar plants and observed that neither a heavy workforce is required for the purpose nor there is any expenditure on gas or fuel.

Replying to the questions of media men, the CM said the elements involved in gas and power theft were criminals and deserve no leniency. He made an appeal to the people to expose gas and power thieves in the national interest. He said that Punjab government is continuing a vigorous campaign against energy thieves. He said that Punjab government is paying full attention to maintenance of law and order and complete protection will be provided to foreign investors in the province. He said that the government led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is making serious efforts for resolving energy problem. Special attention is being paid to generation of electricity from coal and coal-based energy projects are being set up at Gadani, Hubco and near Port Qasim, he concluded.

 

[xyxmt]

If we had smart people in the govt we wouldnt be talking about solar energy, its only good for mounting panel on rooftop of a house to get one refrigrator working and thats all

 

[BATMAN]

Hon Cheetah.

You are absolutely correct. After initial capital cost, maintenance and operating costs of solar & wind power; when compared with fossil fuel operating costs; is negligible. However there is an extremely vital item called cash flow.

It is just like buying a car on Hire Purchase where interest rates of as much as 20% are charged but people still buy cars on HP. Mainly because they just don’t have the money to pay it in one go. The same argument applies to power plants. If you have $1-billion to spend, you can either build a solar power plant to produce 200 MW or CC Gas turbine plant to produce 1000 MW. Depends what your priorities are.

When you compare levelized costs (that is including Capital costs) Solar power costs somewhere between 15 to 22 cents per KWH. You will note from the link below that according to 2010 data Solar energy is still most expensive. I would guess that since we is always short of foreign exchange, situation in Pakistan's case will be even more onerous.

EIA - Levelized Cost of New Generation Resources in the Annual Energy Outlook 2011

There fore to over come the cashflow barrier, i suggest govt. should liberalize energy investment, especially the alternate energy.

Let Germans, Chinese invest, where's the problem?

On the contrary, its not a big of difference in installation cost, either. Depends a lot on system design.
Alternate energy projects can be designed in many different setups suiting to the capital involved.
Where as people tend to ignore, various hidden costs in case of fuel operated power plants.

The biggest advantage with alternate energy for state is that it save foreign currency, which it need to pay to buy oil /gas. Alternate energy systems are also independent of fuel prices or supply.

I past years, i have mentioned that solar will come, but only when political gang will have its setup in place.

In the end, we are short on water, hence dams are an absolute necessity.

 

[SBD-3]

Solar energy park: QSPC to get Rs50m to start development
LAHORE: The Punjab government is to provide a Rs50 million loan to the Qauid-i-Azam Solar Park so civil works can be initiated on the project, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The Finance Department is to release the funds to the company. The Qauid-i-Azam Solar Park is to be set up on 5,000 acres in Cholistan in Bahawalpur district. The park has been registered as a company with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan.

On October 9, the government posted Najam Ahmad Shah as chief executive officer of the QSP Company on deputation. The CEO, a Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS) officer in BS-19, is on a salary of around Rs800,000 a month.

The CEO had requested the Finance Department to provide a Rs200 million loan as seed money in order to enable the company to start work at the site. An official said that the work included land-levelling, tube-well installation, and the construction of buildings and roads. The company has already started making recruitments, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2013.
Solar energy park: QSPC to get Rs50m to start development – The Express Tribune

 

[FunkyGen]

If we had smart people in the govt we wouldnt be talking about solar energy, its only good for mounting panel on rooftop of a house to get one refrigrator working and thats all

Solar energy is probably the least time consuming solution to the shortage of electricity, others being time consuming, costly, pollution causing aren't that feasible. All in all it is a good step forward. However a much better approach would've been/would be the local production of these solar panels in good many numbers to meet the local demand.

 

[xyxmt]

Solar energy is probably the least time consuming solution to the shortage of electricity, others being time consuming, costly, pollution causing aren't that feasible. All in all it is a good step forward. However a much better approach would've been/would be the local production of these solar panels in good many numbers to meet the local demand.

there are so many things that are good for humanity and environment, but they are only in books, so is solar energy
market have a totally different mentality, capitalist market doesnt care about environment but it cares about return on investment and obviously solar doesnt give a good return otherwise you will see solar farm all over Europe and North America where solar panels are cheap and excellent quality