Pakistan represents a culture that calls our planet ‘Mother
Earth’. Energy consumption and production cause two-third of the Green House
Gas (GHG) emissions. Therefore, Energy Efficiency (on demand side) and
Renewable Energy (on the supply side) are considered the two pillars of sustainable
energy movement. It also important to emphasize clean energy system and enhance energy
efficiency as two prime mitigation strategies.
It is expected that by 2022, 5.9 GW of coal-based thermal power
generating stations will going to be taken off from service. Further, the
coal-fired thermal stations totaling 16.8 GW which either do not fulfil the
emission norms of Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change (MOEFCC)
or due to low Plant Load Factor (PLF).
In the next phase of 2022-27, 25.6 GW of projects will be
considered for retirement. The above withdrawals total to over 48 GW of
generating capacity from the grid.
Karachi is reluctant to embrace futuristic technologies. State,
which once exported power, is with a begging bowl now. We currently depends on
the coal-based thermal power from other parts of the country, to meet its 2/3rd of daily energy
requirements.
During 2017-18, the net electricity consumption in the state
stood at 21,259 MU. Out of this, only 5,505 MU (25.9%) were generated within
the state through own hydel sources. The rest were procured through the Central
Generation Station (CGS) pool and from Independent Power Producers (IPP), which
are coal-fired thermal plants. A few of these plants are included in the list
of thermal generators due for retirement in the next 5-10 years. This would
leave Karachi to scout for other energy sources on a war footing.
The above findings lead us to conclude that Karachi must have a plan of
power generation, exploring all means. It is also pivotal to establish
sustainable development in a democratic way. It is suggested to construct Hydro
Electric Projects from run-of-the-river projects. Many experts recommend
mandatory Distributed Energy Resources (DER) through Solar Plants.
Besides emissions, this action on thermal plants further will
save the country, another precious resource – Water. The scarcity of water is
threatening shutdown of thermal plants.
- According to a study, 40% of the country’s thermal power plants are located in areas facing high water stress.
- Pakistan lost 14 TWhr of thermal generation due to water shortages in 2016 (i.e. 20% of the installed capacity)
- 70% of Pakistan’s thermal power plants will have high water stress by 2025
Freshwater consumption from Pakistan thermal utilities stood at
2.1 billion Cu mtr/year, which is roughly 20% of Pakistan’s drinking water
requirement. Moreover, huge withdrawal of water is seriously obstructing
agricultural and industrial growth in the regions where the power plants are
located.
It would be only a matter of time, the supply of water to Karachi
will reach minimum levels. The respective cities where these plants are located
has to protect its citizens from water scarcity, agriculture, industry growth
etc.
The object in the mirror is much closer than it appears!
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