ISLAMABAD, May. 31 (INP): A Leading solar provider has committed to dig deep PV market in Pakistan. A total of 6,656 solar systems will be distributed in each district of Sindh province,” the Director of Sindh Solar Energy has confirmed.  Ali Majid, Pakistan General Manager of leading solar solutions provider LONGi, believes that it is undoubtedly good news for Pakistan’s photovoltaic industry, specifically, for Chinese PV companies that have been deeply involved in the local market. The systems will include solar panels, charge controllers, and batteries. Currently, Sindh generates 400 megawatts of electricity from solar energy.  This project is expected to significantly increase solar power generation in the province. “Nestled in a region blessed with ample sunlight, Pakistan boasts approximately 2.9 million MW of solar power potential,” Ali told in an interview with Gwadar Pro. 

“And while the initial cost of solar technology has been a deterrent, the decreasing global cost is making it more economically viable for Pakistan.” “Our government has been focusing on the development of large-scale centralized PV projects, including solar parks and utility-scale solar installations,” the GM added, “these distributed household PV systems will help to work in synergy with centralized large-scale PV networks, increasing the country’s overall renewable energy capacity and helping to diversify the energy mix.” Photovoltaic power generation, as the best choice to solve Pakistan’s power shortage and optimize its energy structure to a great extent based on fossil fuels, while saving foreign exchange required for energy imports, has vast potential for future development. 

For now, the solar energy market in Pakistan is experiencing rapid growth, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 49.68% expected from 2023 to 2028.  Government initiatives are aiming to increase the share of solar energy in the country’s energy mix, with a goal of obtaining 30% of the country’s power from renewable sources by 2030. In recent years, the Pakistani government has successively formulated a number of related policies, thus the country's photovoltaic industry has shown good development potential. 

According to Pakistan's long-term power plan - the Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP), the cumulative installed capacity of photovoltaics will reach 12%, or 13.2GW, by 2030, and the government will continue to provide maximum support for renewable energy projects.  The global photovoltaic industry is developing in full swing. China-Pakistan cooperation in related industries can make due contributions to the global response to climate change,” Majid emphasized, “By providing high-quality solar panels and promoting sustainable energy solutions, LONGi is aiding the country in achieving its renewable energy goals.”

“Today, LONGi’s footprint in Pakistan is around 5GW. I believe we are well positioned to seize such an opportunity to further our efforts towards a green future for Pakistan.” In recent months, clean energy has experienced a new period of rapid growth, with global renewable energy capacity increasing by 50 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year. Pakistan is committed to becoming an important renewable energy development hub in South Asia and the entire Asian region, and is vigorously promoting green transformation at the national level. As report goes, the Sindh government lately announced to provide solar systems to 200,000 households across the province, including 50,000 homes in Karachi. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China