Focusing on LNG, govt bans new solar and wind projects

[Pakistanisage]

Taking a new line: Focusing on LNG, Government bans new solar and wind projects
By Zafar Bhutta
Published: April 22, 2015

ISLAMABAD:
As the focus rapidly shifts towards liquefied natural gas (LNG)-based power plants, the government has slapped a ban on new solar and wind energy projects, saying they are unfeasible because of being expensive compared to conventional electricity production projects.

The decision was taken in a meeting of the cabinet committee on energy on April 8. The government has admitted for the first time that these renewable energy sources were expensive compared to the conventional means.

Among the various sources of energy, hydroelectric power has the highest share of 34% in total electricity production, followed by furnace oil-based power generation that contributes 33%, gas 21%, diesel 1.8%, wind energy 0.63% and coal 0.31%.

Already three wind power projects with a combined generation capacity of 200 megawatts have been initiated in cooperation with China under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and one solar project of 900MW capacity. Apart from this, work is continuing on a 950MW solar plant.

The Ministry of Water and Power told the energy committee that power generation through solar and wind plants would be pricey because of their high tariffs compared to conventional energy projects. Therefore, no new solar and wind projects should be proposed and sponsored until a further decision on the issue, it suggested.

Following the deliberations, the energy committee, chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, agreed that no new solar and wind power projects would be proposed and sponsored by the time a further decision was taken on the issue.

The committee also discussed in detail the use of LNG in power plants. Officials stressed that there was a dire need for improving the gas supply network in order to clear the way for LNG supply to planned 3,600MW power projects in Punjab.

They emphasised the need for establishing a capacity payment mechanism to make it abundantly clear who would make such payments in the absence of gas supply.

Water and power secretary briefed the meeting about the progress on building LNG-fuelled power plants.

The National Engineering Services of Pakistan (Nespak) has been engaged for preparing the project cycle (PC-1) for the proposed schemes. Preliminary studies for the selected sites have been completed and the Punjab government has been requested to facilitate the land acquisition efforts.

The water and power secretary also spoke about short- and medium-term measures aimed at energy conservation. In the short term, energy will be saved through enforcement of energy discipline in government offices, a public awareness campaign, daylight saving and enforcement of commercial operation timings.

It was proposed that strict energy-saving measures should be undertaken in offices of the federal and provincial governments to economise the consumption of electricity.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2015.

 

[Dubious]

When I said govt did that before I WAS criticized that no such thing happened!

Hun dasso!

While india is trying to achieve green energy and save money in long run we are trying our very best to be dependent on LNG and debts

 

[Pakistanisage]

When I said govt did that before I WAS criticized that no such thing happened!

Hun dasso!

While india is trying to achieve green energy and save money in long run we are trying our very best to be dependent on LNG and debts

Just watch the Power of Oil and Gas LOBBY in Pakistan. They just made a deal with NOONERS to shut down renewable energy which stops import Oil and Gas from the Middle East.

 

[Dubious]

Just watch the Power of Oil and Gas LOBBY in Pakistan. They just made a deal with NOONERS to shut down renewable energy which stops import Oil and Gas from the Middle East.

Stupid people are going to further make us sink in debt!

At this rate we will enter the next decade with full fledged load shedding esp when LNG wont be available!

 

[Arsalan]

When I said govt did that before I WAS criticized that no such thing happened!

Hun dasso!

While india is trying to achieve green energy and save money in long run we are trying our very best to be dependent on LNG and debts

Sheikhon ko kon razi rakhy ga bahi??? aur agr razi ni rakhain gy tu bhag ka kahan jain gay?


On a serious note, i am glad that they have banned Solar plants. That was stupid thing to setup up HUGE plants to produce energy for national grid. The Solar energy is at best a private solution. The taxes on solar panels should be removed, government should try to get private sector involved and set up some collaboration with foreign firm for local manufacturing. Then these panels are to be sold in market from where individuals who can afford them can buy and install them for there OWN NEEDS thus reducing the burden on national gird indirectly.

If SOLAR POWER PARKS are set up that is a big waste of money. BILLIONS are being spent on plants that will spread across acres and need an army of workers to maintain the panels. About 4000 panels will make one mega watt of energy, now think about the area these 4000 panels will cover and think about dozens of workers who will have to maintain these panels. That will be a continuous bleeding process, would take huge amount of money and work force to keep such large scale plants running on a government level.

On other hand, a setup of 12 panels is enough to power a normal house (all things included, like Invertor AC, Fridge, Freezer TV Microwave and normal fan and lights), can easily be maintained by the house owner and will take of burden from national grid indirectly. Even better if you can get some one to make these panels in Pakistan thus providing jobs and educating/training a work force.

WIND POWER, is a totally different case however. That is absolutely cheap, a standard wind turbine can give you 1.8 MW of electricity, that is about twice what you will get from 4000 panels. Also the wind power, once the turbine is installed in carefully selected zone can generate power day and night.

My Opinion:
While the ban on solar power plants makes complete sense and i really do appreciate the government to finally coming to its senses on this, banning wind power is TOTALLY STUPID and uncalled for. Don't know what they were smoking when they made this decision.There might be a few negative ratings or comments by pmln lovers here but remember that while i am really surprised by one stupid move, i really do appreciate the other one!

 

[saurav]

Real reason seems to be lesser gestation period for LNG powered plants. If Coal fired plants ( in association with China ) are given preference, they most probably will start production in 2019. Next election imo is much before that. They need to cut Load shedding in Punjab, and LNG plants is the quickest way to achieve that. This policy however exposes Pakistan to fluctuation in gas price. Other factors will also chip in.

 

[Dubious]

The taxes on solar panels should be removed, government should try to get private sector involved and set up some collaboration with foreign firm for local manufacturing. Then these panels are to be sold in market from where individuals who can afford them can buy and install them for there OWN NEEDS thus reducing the burden on national gird indirectly.

we dont see this being done anytime soon!

 

[Arsalan]

we dont see this being done anytime soon!

Wont debate on that but the point is, THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD BE HAPPENING.

Some taxes have been waved off however, the prices have come down by a few hundred rupees compared to last year. Local production seems a distant happening, if it ever happens!

Anyway, the gov. MUST FOCUS on Wind power, we have the ability to design and make the wind turbines in-house . I

 

[Dubious]

Wont debate on that but the point is, THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD BE HAPPENING.

Some taxes have been waved off however, the prices have come down by a few hundred rupees compared to last year. Local production seems a distant happening, if it ever happens!

Anyway, the gov. MUST FOCUS on Wind power, we have the ability to design and make the wind turbines in-house . I

So Europe making the cycle path with solar panels and next step to make roads with solar panel is a waste of time and money?

World is shifting coz it is more expensive to clean up pollution and the West have realized! Even india has realized about priorities but our "experts" ....

Indian airport becomes world’s first to operate on solar power

 

[Arsalan]

So Europe making the cycle path with solar panels and next step to make roads with solar panel is a waste of time and money?

World is shifting coz it is more expensive to clean up pollution and the West have realized! Even india has realized about priorities but our "experts" ....

Indian airport becomes world’s first to operate on solar power

Dear these are again " Private Solutions" !!

Instead of of installing some 4000000 solar panels in hundreds and thousands of Sq. Kilometer area and then hiring an army of workers for there maintenance and paying in millions for these operations, wont it be wiser to install some 500 odd wind mills? Can you compare the work force required to maintain the millions of panels compared to the one required to look after 500 win mills?

Even the west is moving toward private production. Get an airport to install and maintain solar panels taking the load off the national gird. Get small industries and private houses do it, that will all contribute eventually! As for the road and cycle track plans, that is what they are, PLANS! It will remains this way unless they increase the efficiency of solar chips and find some next generation storage medium to ensure smooth and round the clock supply.

I will say again that solar on an individual/private level and Wind energy at government/national level is the way forward.

 

[yesboss]

Sheikhon ko kon razi rakhy ga bahi??? aur agr razi ni rakhain gy tu bhag ka kahan jain gay?


On a serious note, i am glad that they have banned Solar plants. That was stupid thing to setup up HUGE plants to produce energy for national grid. The Solar energy is at best a private solution. The taxes on solar panels should be removed, government should try to get private sector involved and set up some collaboration with foreign firm for local manufacturing. Then these panels are to be sold in market from where individuals who can afford them can buy and install them for there OWN NEEDS thus reducing the burden on national gird indirectly.

If SOLAR POWER PARKS are set up that is a big waste of money. BILLIONS are being spent on plants that will spread across acres and need an army of workers to maintain the panels. About 4000 panels will make one mega watt of energy, now think about the area these 4000 panels will cover and think about dozens of workers who will have to maintain these panels. That will be a continuous bleeding process, would take huge amount of money and work force to keep such large scale plants running on a government level.

On other hand, a setup of 12 panels is enough to power a normal house (all things included, like Invertor AC, Fridge, Freezer TV Microwave and normal fan and lights), can easily be maintained by the house owner and will take of burden from national grid indirectly. Even better if you can get some one to make these panels in Pakistan thus providing jobs and educating/training a work force.

WIND POWER, is a totally different case however. That is absolutely cheap, a standard wind turbine can give you 1.8 MW of electricity, that is about twice what you will get from 4000 panels. Also the wind power, once the turbine is installed in carefully selected zone can generate power day and night.

My Opinion:
While the ban on solar power plants makes complete sense and i really do appreciate the government to finally coming to its senses on this, banning wind power is TOTALLY STUPID and uncalled for. Don't know what they were smoking when they made this decision.There might be a few negative ratings or comments by pmln lovers here but remember that while i am really surprised by one stupid move, i really do appreciate the other one!

.
Agreed 100%.
Solar is good for homes, tube wells, street lights, policies should be made so that the private sector keeps on working on it so that when the time comes when solar energy gets cheap we will have the required workforce and infrastructure to boost on. As for wind, foreign investments should be encouraged as it is pretty cheap.

 

[Dubious]

Instead of of installing some 4000000 solar panels in hundreds and thousands of Sq. Kilometer area and then hiring an army of workers for there maintenance and paying in millions for these operations, wont it be wiser to install some 500 odd wind mills? Can you compare the work force required to maintain the millions of panels compared to the one required to look after 500 win mills?

1) Wind mill doesnt produce as much energy as solar...
2) not every environment is suitable for wind harvesting
3) Solar is way better than what we are doing now = LNG / Coal!

Even the west is moving toward private production. Get an airport to install and maintain solar panels taking the load off the national gird. Get small industries and private houses do it, that will all contribute eventually!

I will say again that solar on an individual/private level and Wind energy at government/national level is the way forward.

This part I totally agree 100%!

 

[Muhammad Omar]

OLD news see the Dates 22 April 2015 LOL

Khawaja Asif after that said there is no ban on new solar and wind projects and been discussed till death on that issue

 

[Arsalan]

1) Wind mill doesn't produce as much energy as solar...

Doubt that, as i quoted, 40000000 panels producing the same energy as 500 wind turbines, i don't see any harm is adding a dozen more turbines to make amends for any loss of efficiency if that is what you are saying.

2) not every environment is suitable for wind harvesting

Same goes for solar, firstly, you lose about 60% of 24 hours due to day/night time and still you want them to be install them in open USELESS lands like deserts as the area the require is HUGE. So everything needs a suitable environment. Cloudy day will be a deal break for solar just like a less windy day will be for Wind mill. AREAS are to be choses carefully.

3) Solar is way better than what we are doing now = LNG / Coal!

There is absolutely no doubt in that. As i clearly mentioned, i am all OK with Solar as a private solution. Dont you think that people covering to solar will help reduce he load on national gird? isn't this the aim? then why sped billions on installation and then maintenance? Private sector buying and converting to solar for homes, offices, small industries will help reduce the load on national gird immensely. For production at national scale i think we have better options available.

 

[Faiez]

WIND POWER, is a totally different case however. That is absolutely cheap, a standard wind turbine can give you 1.8 MW of electricity, that is about twice what you will get from 4000 panels. Also the wind power, once the turbine is installed in carefully selected zone can generate power day and night.

Then you obviously don't know about wind power in depth....

To generate any power, there is need for atleast 6m/s wind. Pakistan's windy areas have maybe ~7-8m/s wind continuous. The rating on wind mills is usually for around 12-14m/s wind speed.

So installing a wind mill with power rating of 1.8MW in a decently windy area of pakistan may at most generate around 0.5MW continuous on average....

Here is a typical shape of windmill power-output/wind-speed graph :

As you can see, the relationship between wind speed and power output is exponential (i.e. reducing wind speed reduces power output by a bigger proportion).

Also, wind mills designed for low wind speed operations cost more, much more (as more rotor surface area is needed).

So wind power isn't exactly what you think it is. Do take a look at wind map for pakistan.