Pakistan developing 1.1 GW of new solar power

New solar power projects with a cumulative capacity of over 1 GW are currently being developed in Pakistan, according to the Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB).

Several project developers have signed deals to set up projects in Pakistan and the country is expected to see a significant increase in operational solar capacity in the next 5 years.

The AEDB said that there are up to 35 solar photovoltaic projects currently at various stages of development with a total capacity of 1,111 MW.

The Quaid-e-Azam solar power park is set to be the largest of these projects and currently has 100 MW of operational capacity.

Apollo Solar Pakistan, Crest Energy Pakistan, and Best Green Energy Pakistan are each working on 100 MW of extra solar capacity at the Quaid-e-Azam park.

The new additional capacity is expected to be commissioned by the end of this year and will bring the park’s capcity to 400 MW against a planned capacity of 1,000 MW.

Six other developers have received official support for the development of projects with a cumulative capacity of nearly 48 MW.

The ADEB has also issued letters of support for the development of 25 projects with a combined generation capacity of a further 663 MW and these are expected to be operational by 2018.

The government of Punjab province has also issued letters of intent for projects with a total 600 MW of capacity, of which 300 MW of capacity has already secured financing.

Several Chinese and European companies have already invested in Pakistan’s renewables market and foreign investors channelled over $3 billion into the renewable energy sector in Pakistan over the last year.