Country’s first wind farm to be opened by month-end: The News

ISLAMABAD: Renewable energy technologies would be an essential element in Pakistan’s energy future making major contributions to the diversity and security of energy supply and to economic development, said Water and Power Federal Minister and Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) Chairman Raja Pervez Ashraf on Saturday.

He was speaking to the media after a briefing at the AEDB headquarters in connection with the inauguration of the country’s first wind farm planned for later this month. The federal minister reiterated the government’s commitment to ending load-shedding by December 31.

Ashraf said the inauguration of the first wind farm would be a landmark in the renewable energy sector as the government pursues the objective of a clean and competitive energy future for the country.

The wind farm established by the Turkish Firm Zorlu Enerji has a six-megawatt installed capacity in the first phase. Five turbines have been installed, each with a capacity to generate some 149,137 kwh of electricity.

The power generated in the first phase would be supplied to the Jhimpir grid station by the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company for electrifying 7,400 homes. The project will produce sufficient electricity to do away with the production of approximately 10,500 tons of carbon dioxide each year, compared to a conventional fossil fuel power project. The farm would be later expanded in the second phase to generate 50MW of electricity.

For more on this article, please click on the following link: Country’s first wind farm to be opened by month-end: The News

Pakistan’s first wind mill near completion: The News

By By Saad Hasan 10/15/2008
KARACHI: A Turkish company is close to completing the first windmill in Pakistan, which is suffering from severe energy shortage and a ballooning current account deficit as it continues to spend billions of dollars on import of fuel oil to run thermal power plants.

Zorlu Enerji Pakistan has almost completed foundation work for five wind turbines in Jhimpir, 70km from Karachi, each capable of producing 1.2 megawatts of electricity. Though initially 6MW of electricity will be produced, the project will be expanded to 50MW in the next few years.

“We are looking forward to erecting the structures by the end of November,” said Osman Ipek, CEO Zorlu while talking to newsmen on Monday. “The potential is immense, wind density and speed is sufficient.”

It has been quite some time since a natural wind corridor from Gharo to Keti Bandar in Sindh province was discovered. This windmill will mark the first of many such projects in the pipeline. Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB), a government body tasked with promoting indigenous sources of renewable energy, has successfully formulated a policy which ensures better return for investors.

Project Manager Yagmar Ozdemir said sale price of wind energy in Pakistan is better than other countries. “Internal rate of return of 15 per cent (annually) is very good. Other countries do not offer more than 12 per cent.”

For more on this article, please click on the following link: Pakistan’s first wind mill near completion: The News