Pakistan and Germany are working on Pak-German Renewable Energy Forum (REF) to connect Pakistani-German stakeholders from public and private sectors of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, Ambassador of Germany to Pakistan Ina Lepel said on Saturday.
Speaking at the 5th International Exhibition and Conference on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, she said the German Development Cooperation had been engaged in renewable energy and energy efficiency since 1962, the very beginnings of Pakistan-German development cooperation.
“Our objective is to support sustainable electricity supply in Pakistan and to help improve the efficient use of energy,” she added.
Pakistan has a large potential for sustainable economic and social development due to its geographical realities as a trade corridor, its agricultural and human resources and its potential as a competitive exporter of goods in high demand within the region and beyond, Ms. Ina Lepel remarked.
The ambassador said Pakistan’s potential in terms of renewable energy was even bigger than that of Germany. Pakistan has more wind corridors, more photovoltaic potential and also exceptional opportunities for hydropower, she said.
Alternative Energy Development Board Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amjad Ali Awan said Pakistan’s Renewable Energy sector had tremendous response from international market and that mapping of solar and wind potential was in progress while bio-mass mapping had already been completed.
He said efforts were being made to enhance renewable energy’s share to 35 per cent of the energy mix in order to ensure energy security. He said Pakistan has potential for producing over 40,000MW of electricity in Karachi-Keti Bandar Wind corridor alone.
Air University Dean Dr Zafarullah Koreshi, while underlining the need of promoting renewable energy, said over 40,000-50,000MW of electricity could be generated from hydel resources.
Different stalls by various companies dealing in solar technologies were set up at the exhibition.
International Exhibition and Conference on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency was organized by Renewable & Alternative Energy Association of Pakistan (REAP) to promote renewable resources of energy in Pakistan. REAP is the first ever registered entity of the country in alternative and renewable energy sector with a mission to minimize the national dependence on conventional resources of energy by promoting renewable resources of energy in Pakistan.
