Renewable Energy

Renewable energy sources to boost economy,
KARACHI – President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), President All Karachi Industrial Alliance (AKIA), Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and former Provincial Minister, Mian Zahid Hussain on Wednesday lauded the efforts of the government to rationalize power purchase agreements signed with private power producers.
READ MORE: Canadian Solar Panels in Pakistan
Balanced agreements will provide some relief to the masses and reduce the cost of doing business which will increase production and exports, he said.
Talking to the business community, the veteran business leader said that electricity is costly in Pakistan as compared to the regional countries which has many disadvantages including costly production.
The former Minister noted that a flawed power policy was made a few decades ago in which national interests were compromised for personal welfare. Private power producers were allowed to use any fuel to generate electricity and they were offered unbelievable rates as well as relaxations, he said.
This move increased power production and added to the wealth of people involved at the cost of the economy of Pakistan, he added.
READ MORE: Solar system for Home
Now the government has initiated serious efforts to improve the tilted agreements with private power producers which is in the national interest, he stated. Mian Zahid Hussain said that a mechanism should be designed to discourage people in power to play with the future of the country for personal welfare.
He said that Pakistan has matchless hydel, solar, wind, garbage and tidal energy potential but imported fuel is used to generate electricity which jacks up oil import bill and creates many problems.
Hydel power potential is said to be in hundreds of thousands of megawatts but only 9389 megawatts is generated, solar power potential is seven hundred thousand megawatt but the production remains insignificant, wind power potential is 50,000 megawatts while we only generate 2,000 megawatt.
He demanded a focus on renewable resources to generate electricity which will provide clean energy and save oil import bill.

Comprehensive Guide to Renewable Energy

What is Renewable Energy?

Renewable energy is energy derived from natural sources that replenish faster than they are consumed, typically on a human timescale. Unlike finite fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), renewables are virtually inexhaustible and produce minimal greenhouse gas emissions during operation, making them essential for combating climate change and ensuring sustainable energy security.

Types of Renewable Energy Sources

1. Solar Energy

Source: Captures energy from sunlight.
Technologies:
- Photovoltaics (PV): Solar panels convert sunlight directly into electricity.
- Concentrated Solar Power (CSP): Uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight, generating heat to drive steam turbines.
Key Advantage: Ubiquitous, scalable from small rooftop systems to utility-scale farms.

2. Wind Energy

Source: Kinetic energy from moving air.
Technologies: Onshore and offshore wind turbines convert wind’s kinetic energy into mechanical power, which a generator then converts to electricity.
Key Advantage: Highly efficient and cost-effective at scale, especially in windy regions.

3. Hydropower

Source: Energy from flowing water.
Technologies:
- Dams (Large-Scale): Impound water to create height differential (potential energy).
- Run-of-River & Micro-Hydro: Use natural flow without large reservoirs.
Key Advantage: Reliable, dispatchable baseload power with long facility lifespans.

4. Geothermal Energy

Source: Heat from the Earth’s subsurface.
Technologies: Uses steam or hot water from underground reservoirs to drive turbines for electricity or provide direct heating.
Key Advantage: Provides constant, baseload power independent of weather conditions.

5. Biomass Energy

Source: Organic material from plants and animals.
Technologies: Burning, gasification, or anaerobic digestion to produce heat, electricity, or biofuels (e.g., ethanol, biodiesel).
Consideration: Only sustainable if feedstocks are replenished and lifecycle emissions are low.

6. Ocean Energy

Source: Tidal movements, wave action, and thermal gradients in seawater.
Technologies: Tidal barrages, tidal stream generators, wave energy converters, and Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC).
Status: Mostly in pilot and developmental stages with high potential.

Key Drivers for Adoption

Climate Change Mitigation: Replacing fossil fuels to reduce CO₂ and methane emissions.
Energy Security & Independence: Reducing reliance on imported fuels and diversifying the energy mix.
Economic Growth & Jobs: The renewable sector is a major and fast-growing source of employment.
Public Health: Improves air and water quality by reducing pollutants from combustion.
Falling Costs: Dramatic price reductions in solar PV and wind (over 80% in the last decade) have made them the cheapest new-build electricity in most of the world.
Technology Innovation: Advances in efficiency, energy storage (batteries), and smart grids.

Global Status & Trends

Capacity Growth: Renewables are the fastest-growing energy source globally. Solar and wind lead new power capacity additions.
Leading Countries: China, the United States, the European Union (especially Germany, Spain, Denmark), and India.
Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs): Major companies (Google, Amazon, Microsoft) are among the largest buyers of renewable energy.
Grid Integration: Focus on energy storage (lithium-ion, pumped hydro), demand response, and modern grid management to handle the variable nature of solar and wind.

Challenges & Solutions

Challenge	Description	Solutions & Mitigations
Intermittency	Solar/wind are variable and non-dispatchable.	Energy Storage (batteries, pumped hydro), Demand Response, diversified renewable mix, grid interconnection.
Grid Integration	Existing grids were designed for centralized, constant power.	Smart Grids, advanced inverters, grid-forming storage, updated market rules.
Land & Resource Use	Large-scale projects require significant space/water.	Distributed generation (rooftop solar), using non-arable land, agrivoltaics, improved efficiency.
Upfront Capital Cost	High initial investment despite low operating costs.	Innovative financing (PPAs, green bonds), government incentives, scale manufacturing.
Supply Chain & Materials	Reliance on critical minerals (lithium, cobalt, rare earths).	Recycling, material innovation, diversified sourcing, circular economy models.
Policy & Regulatory Hurdles	Inconsistent incentives, permitting delays, fossil fuel subsidies.	Stable, long-term policies, streamlined permitting, phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies.

The Future: Key Megatrends

Electrification of Everything: Coupling renewables with electric vehicles (EVs), heat pumps, and industrial processes.
Green Hydrogen: Using excess renewable electricity to produce hydrogen via electrolysis, providing clean fuel for hard-to-electrify sectors (shipping, steel, aviation).
Digitalization & AI: Using AI for predictive maintenance, grid optimization, and forecasting renewable output.
Distributed Energy Resources (DERs): Growth of prosumers (consumers who also produce) via rooftop solar, home batteries, and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology.
100% Renewable Goals: Cities, corporations, and countries setting targets for 100% renewable electricity or energy.

Environmental & Economic Impact

Carbon Abatement: The single largest tool for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Job Creation: The sector employs millions globally in manufacturing, installation, operations, and R&D.
Health Cost Savings: Billions saved annually by reducing healthcare costs associated with air pollution.
Energy Access: Decentralized renewables (solar home systems, mini-grids) are the most cost-effective way to provide electricity to remote and underserved populations.

Conclusion

Renewable energy has transitioned from a niche alternative to the mainstream engine of global energy transformation. Driven by compelling economics, technological innovation, and urgent climate imperatives, it is reshaping energy systems, geopolitics, and economies. The challenge is no longer technical or economic viability, but the speed and scale of deployment, grid modernization, and creating an enabling policy environment to achieve a fully decarbonized, resilient, and equitable energy future.

For More Details Contact us on 0304-1111-988

Also Follow our Facebook Page

Click Here