Shifting towards Renewable Energy Resources: Best Option is Solar Energy in Pakistan

Pakistan is in worst energy crisis situation. Demand of energy has been increased due to industrialization, urbanization, increase in agricultural sector, increasing per head income, and electricity supply in rural areas. The power consumption has been increased to about 23% during 1980 to 1981 and this was increased further to almost 46.5% in 2010 to 2011. There is the need to shift on renewable energy sources to fulfill the increasing energy demands and reduce the emissions from non renewable energy sources. Renewable energy sources are those resources that can be naturally replenished while non renewable energy resources are those resources that cannot replenished in the lifetime of human. Renewable energy sources have the great potential in Pakistan. The renewable energy sources that are present in abundant are: biomass energy, solar energy, wind energy and geothermal energy but their utilization is as less as no use of it. The first renewable energy policy was presented in 2006 which set the goals for 9700 MW power production from renewable energy sources since 2030. Even though the targets were set but no success was achieved in terms of using renewable energy technologies in country. Different renewable energy sources are describes here.

BIOGAS: Biogas has the potential of producing energy in rural areas of Pakistan. There are almost 5357 biogas units that have been installed in the Pakistan and their sizes range from 3 to 15 m³ per day. The potential of energy generated by biogas is predicted to be 12–16 million m³ per day nationwide. The biogas scheme of producing energy was proved to be a failed effort due to high price of technology, emissions from cow dung and lack of inspiration.

HYDROPOWER: Hydropower also contributes in fulfilling the energy demands of the world. Total of 20% world energy demands are provided through hydropower in form of electricity. Hydropower generation is proved to be inefficient source of electricity production due to reason that  dams building caused  replacement of people, land use changes in dams constructed regions, major impact on rivers, environment, and nearby societies. Due to lack of attention toward hydropower utilization , the hydropower capacity was reduced from 70 to 33 percent during 1960 to 2006.

SOLAR ENERGY: Among all renewable energy resources solar energy is best suitable option especially in the regions where solar potential is maximum such as Pakistan having the global solar radiance of 1900 to 2200 kWh/m² that makes the Pakistan rich in term of solar energy potential. Solar energy is the natural resource of energy where no emissions are produced. The first cost of purchasing complete solar panel system is high but in about 2 to 3 years solar electricity recovers the cost of panel. It has been also indicated that allocation of solar energy is constant all over country. Solar energy in Pakistan has many uses such as solar photovoltaic, solar water heating, solar desalination and solar crop drying. Solar photovoltaic provides a best option for electricity production in the areas of remote villages of Balochistan, Cholistan and Thar deserts. In order to convert solar energy in energy forms usable for human needs there are several thermodynamic pathways. In general, heat, kinetic energy, electric energy and chemical energy can be provided via solar energy conversion. Photovoltaic (PV) is the direct conversion of radiation into electricity. Photovoltaic systems contain cells that convert sun light into electricity.

The efficiency of solar panels depends upon many factors such as particulate matter (dust) depositions, temperature, humidity and solar irradiance and solar panel area. Solar Irradiance is the solar power received per unit area from sun in the form of electromagnetic radiation. Particulate matter deposition reduces the efficiency of solar panel. Solar Irradiance enhances the the efficiency of panel.