Faiza Tehseen

Pakistan can ensure sustainable socioeconomic prosperity for its people by introducing the ‘energy storage as a service’ (ESaaS) model as it will contribute to revenue generation, promoting savings and improving electric supply resilience.

“ESaaS is a facility that assists in accessing the energy storage system without buying the whole system. The ESaaS at the industrial scale is an emerging model in Pakistan. Under this model, instead of the conventional ways, energy storage systems are offered as a service to people,” said Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, spokesman of the Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Ministry, while taking to WealthPK. He said the energy demand in the country has surged due to the burgeoning industrial sector. “Fossil fuels are the major contributors to producing energy causing a lot of carbon footprint in the country. To cope with this issue, the energy storage models (ESMs) are the emerging concept. Ensuring the consistent energy supply, these models are the vital solutions to lower the carbon impacts. The integration of the models at the industrial scale can prove a key strategy in Pakistan’s energy transition scenario.” Shaikh said that ESaaS models represent a powerful approach to the intermittency problem associated with the renewable energy source.

“These models can store enough energy during the low energy demand period that can be released at the time of need ensuring a steady electricity flow.” Mr Shaikh, who is also a climate change education specialist, said: “Industrial units can also establish their own power storage systems. This energy can be saved through natural sources like solar, air or water. All these sources are helpful in reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and to lower the carbon footprint.” The climate change ministry official said the energy storage models are of different types – battery energy storage system, pumped hydro storage, and the compressed air energy storage. The official said that the integration of ESaaS would ensure a significant reduction in carbon emissions. “The industry will also get low-cost energy in this way,” he said, underscoring the concerted efforts from both the government and the private sector to this effect.

“To promote the energy storage models, a strong policy framework and investment incentives are necessary. The government must offer proper assistance for the establishment of the said systems. Only then Pakistan will achieve the goal of lowering its carbon footprint,” the official emphasised. Reputed companies in Pakistan are also adopting the ESaaS model to fulfil their energy needs. Noman Shaw Chohan, a spokesman of Murree Brewery company, said recently they have installed energy storage and power generation systems in their firm. “It proves helpful in safeguarding the environment and fulfilling the power needs. We are also working to convince other industrialists and small and medium scale enterprises to adopt the model.” Chohan said that the government should support entrepreneurs and SMEs in adopting the new technology.

Credit: INP-WealthPk