The latest initiative will add 5000 to 7000 MW energy to national grid, officials say
Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) has accorded approval to certification regulations for introducing the solar power net metering system in the country.
According to Govt Officials, the Alternative Energy Development Board allowing for consumers to install solar-powered panels to generate electricity and sell the same to the national grid.
This was decided in 41st meeting of Board of Directors (BoD) allowing certification regulations for solar powered net metering in the country to facilitate consumers to install solar-powered panels to generate electricity and sell the same to national grid is likely to bring 5,000 to 7,000MW electricity to the national grid
The meeting was headed by federal Minister for Power Awais Laghari while presiding over the meeting of Board of Director of AEDB. The Power Division secretary and other members of the BOD participated in the meeting.
He further said the expansion of net metering which is already in place in a few cities and simplification of the approval process would encourage more consumers to install solar panels and sell excess power to the national grid.
Till know 150 solar installations including one at Islamabad’s Parliament House are adding 4 MW of power to the grid through net metering.
Asjad Imtiaz Ali chief executive officer of the Alternative Energy Development Board said we hope extending net metering will add 1,000 MW of solar power by 2021 and 4,500 MW by 2025 which help Pakistan’s government cut power shortages in the long run.
Right now most people with solar panels use the energy for power and also to charge a battery that provides power at night, though the system is not highly efficient.
Currently, Pakistan’s rural areas face blackouts of over 11 hours a day while urban areas suffer up to eight hours of daily power cuts. The total power shortfall stands around 6,000 megawatts.