Amir Saeed

Transmission bottlenecks hinder the effective integration of solar and wind power in Pakistan, underscoring the need for urgent infrastructure upgrades and policy reforms to unlock the full potential of these sustainable resources.

Talking to WealthPK, Aafia Malik, an energy expert at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), highlighted that the existing grid infrastructure was inadequate for supporting green technologies. She pointed out that while there had been a growing emphasis on renewable energy, the power sector remained reliant on outdated technology. This reliance leads to issues such as reverse flow problems faced by the distribution companies (DISCOs), which struggle to manage the increasing adoption of rooftop solar installations.

Aafia said immediate corrective measures were essential, including upgrading infrastructure and implementing smart management strategies, to optimize power flow and balance supply and demand effectively. She stressed the importance of advanced technologies like Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. These technologies can enhance grid monitoring and swiftly identify issues, thereby preventing widespread problems linked to integrating renewable energy sources. She also suggested Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to track real-time demand, enabling better management of energy resources.

She highlighted that the submission of the first-ever Transmission System Expansion Plan (TSEP) was a pivotal step toward addressing the infrastructure shortcomings. However, she cautioned that its success depended on proactive engagement from the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) and local ownership of renewable energy integration initiatives. Talking to WealthPK, Dr Khalid Waleed, a research fellow at SDPI, highlighted that despite wind power being designated as a mandatory energy source, inefficiencies in delivering this electricity to the consumers had resulted in significant energy losses.

The levelized tariffs for wind energy have dropped by nearly 70% in recent years, making it a financially viable option for both investors and consumers. However, persistent curtailment issues, where wind power generation is reduced or halted due to inadequate transmission capacity, compromise these benefits. He pointed out that many wind farms, particularly in southern regions like Sindh, struggle to connect with the national grid due to insufficient infrastructure. This situation leads to a waste of potential energy production and hinders Pakistan's progress toward diversifying its energy mix and enhancing sustainability.

He emphasized that an integrated plan involving collaboration among national and provincial entities was crucial for establishing the necessary infrastructure to harness the wind power effectively. He added that leveraging offshore wind power could complement the existing solar energy projects by providing a more consistent renewable source. However, this approach introduces new complexities requiring robust infrastructure and advanced ancillary services.

Credit: INP-WealthPk