Shams Power: Solar Power As the Way Forward to Tackle Energy Crises in Pakistan

Energy is vital for the socioeconomic development of a country. Pakistan is no exception to this rule as it solely depends on traditional fossil fuels for its energy needs.

This dependency has led to serious consequences for the economy of the country including the enormous circular debt. To resolve this issue, the government must take steps to promote renewable energy technologies.

Cost-Effectiveness

Pakistan’s energy crisis is not just a supply problem. It’s also a problem of governance and political will. The crisis is rooted in Pakistan’s lack of a comprehensive energy strategy, turf wars among government agencies, and the leadership’s unwillingness to implement politically unpopular measures.

The resulting spiral of price hikes has led to widespread consumer protests. Moreover, the price rise has triggered other problems, such as an increase in circular debt and rising inflation. This is why the country must invest in sustainable energy sources.

A cost-effective way to tackle this issue is through renewables. Increasing the amount of renewable energy in Pakistan will reduce energy consumption and help the country become self-sufficient. Furthermore, it will reduce the need for expensive imports of fossil fuels. This is particularly important for the economy, as it is currently highly dependent on imports. The country can also use wind, solar, and bio waste to meet its energy requirements.

Environmental Impact

As energy demand increases and the price of traditional fossil fuels rises, Pakistan faces an energy crisis that affects every sector of society. The country’s electricity shortage has resulted in frequent power outages and rising poverty levels. The problem is worsened by widespread electricity theft, both by private citizens and the government.

Fortunately, the government is making a serious effort to diversify its energy sources. It recently launched a new solar plant and reduced taxes on solar panel imports. Additionally, it is exploring ways to tap its unexploited coal reserves in the Thar Desert. It also has begun construction on a pilot 660-megawatt coal plant in Gadani. However, it will take time to develop these resources fully. In the meantime, Pakistan should continue to prioritize solar and wind power to reduce its dependency on expensive fossil fuels. Additionally, it should invest in improving its transmission and distribution systems. It should also launch public awareness campaigns to encourage the use of alternative energy.

Reliability

Pakistan suffers from an energy crisis that threatens the country’s economic stability. The problem stems from a number of factors, including a lack of effective policy-making. A solution to this problem would require a comprehensive energy strategy and the consolidation of government agencies involved in energy management.

Moreover, Islamabad should address energy-demand side issues such as reducing power-line losses, which are currently estimated at 30% of total consumption. This would require a crackdown on energy theft and improved maintenance at transmission, distribution, and generation facilities.

The government should also improve the reliability of electricity supply by reducing its dependency on coal. The country should shift to renewables, such as wind and solar, and build a network of microgrids to reduce its demand for the national grid. Finally, it should make water efficiency a priority and abandon decades of water-intensive irrigation practices. This will help cut energy consumption, which is largely caused by the country’s excessive irrigation of food crops.

Energy Security

Pakistan’s energy problems go far beyond power-generation expansion and other supply-side quick fixes that have become the de facto policy of Islamabad’s political leadership. These policies mask the underlying governance and political will shortages, which must be addressed before energy relief can be achieved.

The main problem is that indigenous oil and gas resources are depleted quickly, and demand is rising faster than production. Furthermore, Pakistan is facing two major societal shifts that could worsen the energy crisis in the years to come: urbanization and climate change.

Currently, the country’s foreign reserves are dwindling fast and inflation is expected to reach double digits this year. If the government does not find a way to address these issues soon, it will be impossible for Pakistan to afford even stopgap measures to expand energy generation. This would likely result in a steep increase in the frequency and intensity of public protests, which would impede the state’s ability to maintain order.