Renewable energy like wind and solar power emphasized in CPEC

ISLAMABAD,July 29 (Gwadar Pro) - There is now 24 wind power projects with installed capacity of 1233.37MW generating electricity and connected with the national grid while 6 solar projects of 430MW cumulative capacity are also operational, an official in Alternative Energy Development board (AEDB) said.

With respect to the renewable energy projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the official said the CPEC framework includes 7 wind projects of 398MW cumulative capacity and 1000MW solar power projects in Quid-i-Azam Solar Park, Bahawalpur.

Out of them, 5 wind power projects of 299MW capacity and 4 solar power projects of 400MW have been completed while two wind power projects including Western Energy (Pvt) Limited 50MW wind project and Cacho Wind Energy Pvt. Limited were in development stage and added in the list of actively promoted energy projects on the proposal of Chinese side, the official said.

According to a report of Urdu Point, the Power Division has installed more than 1600 net metering based solar systems across the country with a cumulative capacity about 27.5 Mega Watt (MW) of electricity by end June 2019. Besides, eight sugar mills based bagasse co-generation projects of 259.1MW capacity are also contributing to the national grid.

National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) issued its net metering regulations in September 2015 under which the electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) were allowed to purchase surplus electricity produced by the consumers, and net them off against the units consumed from the grid.