Pakistan’s parliament becomes first in world to run entirely on solar power

[Lone Ranger]

Pakistan’s parliament becomes first in world to run entirely on solar power
The seat of the government in the country’s capital, Islamabad, is now wholly powered by the sun

Pakistan’s parliament has become the first in the world to run entirely on solar power.

Known as the Majlis-e-Shoora, the seat of the government in the country’s capital, Islamabad, is now wholly powered by the sun.

First announced in 2014, the venture has been funded by the Chinese government as an act of friendship, with the solar power plant costing around £36.5 million.

The project was officially launched during Chinese president Xi Jinping’s visit last year.

Now complete, it produces 80 megawatts of electricity, 62 of which are consumed by the national assembly with the remainder going to the national grid, according to Pakistani newspaper Dawn.

Members met in the house for the first time on February 12 as it was being powered by sunshine.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to formally ‘switch on’ the program later this month.

Special secretary at the National Assembly, Munawar Abbas Shah, previously commented: “This is the first project of its kind [in a public building] in Pakistan, and later more public buildings will be converted to solar power to overcome the energy crisis.”

“The consumption of electricity in the parliament even jumps over two megawatts in summers when the house is in session.”

The move is expected to save around £689,369 ($1million) a year in bills.

Pakistan’s parliament becomes first in world to run entirely on solar power | Asia | News | The Independent

 

[waz]

That's great, I hope they can roll something like that (on a smaller scale) for villages.

By the way, there was no need for the whole solar thing. There is plenty of bio mass ($hit) and hot air from the parliament all day, for a reactor to run on.

 

[Sky lord]

We run ours on hot air and natural gas.
The advantage is the parliamentarians can produce it themselves, no external help needed.