S.Korea to install 300MW solar projects

[A.Rafay]

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ISLAMABAD - South Korea has shown its interest to install a power plant project of up to 300MW of solar energy in Quetta, in this regard Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) would be signed with Balochistan government.
The Balochistan government has already offered to Korean company a piece of land of 1500 acres approximately near the airport.
Solar energy options were discussed during a meeting of Korean delegations with Chairman Board of Investment (BOI) Saleem H. Mandviwalla on Tuesday for investment in solar energy projects in Pakistan. The delegation was led by Dr. Choi Moon-sok, the CEO of Concentrix (CX) Solar, Korea.
The three member Korean delegation informed the Chairman BOI that company was interested in putting up a project of solar energy in Quetta and for this purpose they were already in negotiation with the Balochistan government, after which they would be signing an MOU for the construction of 300 MW Power Plant Project in Quetta.
The delegation informed the Chairman that their technology was the latest and is best suited to Pakistani conditions.
As a first step, they would install 50MW, and then they would gradually complete it upto 300MW in the form of six complexes/sub units. Chairman BOI welcomed them to start the project and encouraged them to come up with various other proposals to invest in the energy sector of Pakistan. He informed the delegation that the Prime Minister was very keen to improve the energy sector, given the current prevailing energy crisis in the country. The company also intends to sign an MOU with the Board of Investment, which is under process.
Later, Mandviwalla along with the delegation called on the Prime Minister, where the company representatives apprised the PM about their planned power plant project in Quetta. Also they suggested various proposals, like the conversion of the diesel generated pumps to solar energy for irrigation purposes. The PM appreciated their investment plans and ensured the full support and cooperation of the government in these projects.

 

[Jango]

If all or half the tube-wells of this country are put on Solar power, then it would be a very very big boost to the agriculture sector, and also would take some burden off the grid. This should be a priority of the government.

 

[illusion8]

If all or half the tube-wells of this country are put on Solar power, then it would be a very very big boost to the agriculture sector, and also would take some burden off the grid. This should be a priority of the government.

Those panels are expensive and require a lot of maintenance and frequent replacements, solar power generation is not ideal if one considers cost to output ratio, the most economical are hydel and wind.

Solar energy generation can be used to gain carbon credits - but that's not Pakistan's immediate concern now i assume.

 

[Liquidmetal]

Those panels are expensive and require a lot of maintenance and frequent replacements, solar power generation is not ideal if one considers cost to output ratio, the most economical are hydel and wind.

Solar energy generation can be used to gain carbon credits - but that's not Pakistan's immediate concern now i assume.

You seem to know about Solar power, in India there is a major solar project in Gujrat state, Pakistan and India are solar resource rich nations so why is solar power so ignored esp in Pakistan? is it the cost? surely a local manfacturing facility will bring the cost down. What are the technical hurdles? Thank u.

 

[kingkobra]

You seem to know about Solar power, in India there is a major solar project in Gujrat state, Pakistan and India are solar resource rich nations so why is solar power so ignored esp in Pakistan? is it the cost? surely a local manfacturing facility will bring the cost down. What are the technical hurdles? Thank u.

Major hurdles are cost of setting up these solar power plants which are huge when your consider size of land used+cost of solar panels+maintenance and all this gives very less output electricity...Smart use of land is key if solar power plants are to be set up cost effectively...

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[SamranAli]

that great for Quetta and Balochistan.

 

[hunter_hunted]

When will that day come when we will generate electricity in thousands not in hundereds.


still good going still its better to have something rather than empty hands.

 

[qinglong-china]

If Pakistan can get the technology transfer, that was better.

Congratulations to Pakistan.

 

[Nothing]

You seem to know about Solar power, in India there is a major solar project in Gujrat state, Pakistan and India are solar resource rich nations so why is solar power so ignored esp in Pakistan? is it the cost? surely a local manfacturing facility will bring the cost down. What are the technical hurdles? Thank u.

Cost factor is always there, but in current scenario (where Pakistan is suffering bcos of load shedding and importing costly gas for energy) government should not concentrate on cost.
Technology is bit complex, but there are many countries which has expertise so not difficult to get hands on it.

One should start implementing it on small levels in small isolated villages. Those can be good case study for large installation.

 

[Jango]

Those panels are expensive and require a lot of maintenance and frequent replacements, solar power generation is not ideal if one considers cost to output ratio, the most economical are hydel and wind.

Solar energy generation can be used to gain carbon credits - but that's not Pakistan's immediate concern now i assume.

Some weks back, I had a discussion with somebody in the know-how of all this. He has himself set up a company somewhat related to this field.

The initial setup cost is indeed expensive, and if German panels are used rather than Chinese ones, they get even more expensive. The reason that German are preferred is that they are more reliable and less prone to keep on developing a fault.

If a solar panel is installed in home of medium size, the initial set-up cost is recovered after 1.5 years, so, instead of paying 30k bill every month, so, in 1.5 years that comes out to be almost 540k. Rather than paying the 540 k over a long period, why not just put up an initial investment, and then reap the benefits for years to come? The maintenance issue is not that much if the German panels are bought, they are reliable and the maintenance period is also after a fair few months.

Somebody i know has put up all his house to solar, and he put in an initial investment, had somebody in Germany, got the panels through him, and after using around 10,00,000 PKR (big house) initially, put up the panels. Instead of paying 70k bills a month, then also bills on that gas generator, he uses solar.

Another cost with the solar panels is the batteries. But in the case of tubewells, that cost is negated because the tube-wells are put into use only in day time, and when the tube well is not in operation, some spare electricity can be provided to the local houses as well if their is a surplus 9although there wont be much if small panels are used).

A little push by the government is needed, like putting some subsidy, encouraging local markets on this issue, and introduce them on there own. But when Zardari has in hands deep in LPG , that seems impossible!

 

[Dubious]

Some weks back, I had a discussion with somebody in the know-how of all this. He has himself set up a company somewhat related to this field.

The initial setup cost is indeed expensive, and if German panels are used rather than Chinese ones, they get even more expensive. The reason that German are preferred is that they are more reliable and less prone to keep on developing a fault.

If a solar panel is installed in home of medium size, the initial set-up cost is recovered after 1.5 years, so, instead of paying 30k bill every month, so, in 1.5 years that comes out to be almost 540k. Rather than paying the 540 k over a long period, why not just put up an initial investment, and then reap the benefits for years to come? The maintenance issue is not that much if the German panels are bought, they are reliable and the maintenance period is also after a fair few months.

Somebody i know has put up all his house to solar, and he put in an initial investment, had somebody in Germany, got the panels through him, and after using around 10,00,000 PKR (big house) initially, put up the panels. Instead of paying 70k bills a month, then also bills on that gas generator, he uses solar.

Another cost with the solar panels is the batteries. But in the case of tubewells, that cost is negated because the tube-wells are put into use only in day time, and when the tube well is not in operation, some spare electricity can be provided to the local houses as well if their is a surplus 9although there wont be much if small panels are used).

A little push by the government is needed, like putting some subsidy, encouraging local markets on this issue, and introduce them on there own. But when Zardari has in hands deep in LPG , that seems impossible!

Yup initial costs are high but recovered over the long run....the maintenance that people make a deal about usually comes in after a couple of years...

 

[Jango]

Alot of advertising boards in lahore are already on Solar power, and also a fair few tubewells.

http://www.pakssolarpower.com/projects.html

Solar Systems Pakistan - Solar Fans and Solar Room Lights - Complete solar and wind solutions for homes, business and government. Provider of Solar panels, batteries, power energy systems.

 

[Freakyfish]

solar panels are reasonably priced nowadays,but for Pakistan, solar panels are not feasible.

As solar panels are high to medium maintenance power generating equipment ,the need for an efferent and time bound maintenance cycle is necessary. id risk demeaning but Pakistan is known to be lacking in good maintenance in most of its institutions and infrastructure.

Pakistan should focus on thermal energy ie electricity through coal... minimal input and substantial power generation.
the price to output wrt solar panels is not what Pakistan can afford to dive into...in my opinion.

 

[Jango]

The maintenance is not a like every week. It is after a fair few months 9depends on the panels).

personally, i would like to have solar panels after an initial investment rather than having to pay 500k in 18 months.

The problem is the initial setup. You have to import these panels, and while China is easy, it is also not too much reliable. So most people who have some contact in Germany or Europe get German panels.

 

[Dubious]

It is a very good investment considering the summer in Pakistan...

It would be lovely to know if there are large enough capacitors to store for long term...

And yes, doing business with the Europeans should be encouraged...In fact, if there is a brainy in Pak- we should explore and make our own but we don't have the electrical power to set up factories and stuff

OR DO WE?