Monsoons and Rural Solar PV in Pakistan: EV World

The monsoons have arrived. For days now it had been hot and muggy (Like southern Indiana in the summer) but on Friday the rains started. Just sprinkles at first but Friday night a big storm came in with lots of thunder and lightning and torrential rain. On Saturday, Faizan’s father Irfan and I went out looking for the thin, tin plated copper ribbon we use to solder the solar cells together to make the PV modules we are building. There was flooding at some of the intersections but it wasn't too bad getting around when we started out.

We went to the Saddar market section of Karachi to check out the rows and rows of electronic market stalls, which sell everything you can imagine in the way of electronic parts - except tin plated copper ribbon, we found out. We splashed through flooded streets in the continuing rain going from stall to stall following directions as to where we might find the ribbon, but never did, there in the electronics area.

However, one of the stalls was selling PV modules and systems so we stopped and talked with them to see just what the photovoltaic market is like in Pakistan. It turns out that there already is a PV module manufacturer in Pakistan making rather good modules using a regular laminating machine and the Certified method of assembly with tempered glass (from Turkey), EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) and a Tedlar backing. The 80 watt module we examined is selling for about $320 or $4 per watt. Most of the rest of his stock was a collection of Chinese made modules that he was buying for around $2.50 per watt. Just since I came, (although I am pretty sure my presence had nothing to do with it) the Pakistani government has put a 25% tariff on the importation of finished PV modules, but has left duty-free the materials needed to manufacture the modules. This will be good for the new Sooraj Solar Company being organized by the people I am teaching, since they are in the process of purchasing an entire pallet of 10,000 Evergreen Solar cells to be air freighted here in the next couple of weeks. The off-spec Evergreen Solar cells are now less than 75 cents per watt in that quantity, and all the other parts (like the glass and transparent vinyl table cloth backing material) are cheaper here than in the US; so the cottage industry can compete with the Chinese imports and still make a decent income. The Solar market proprietor is very interested in carrying the new Soonezla brand of PV modules.

After the nice long discussion in the solar market with glasses of tea (I chose 7-Up after wondering how dirty the cups were), I suggested that we go to the jewelry artisan part of the Saddar, where people work all the time with thin gold, silver and copper sheets. Going around the stalls, Irfan spotted a silversmith he knew (who waded knee deep through the creek that the street had become, to come over and talk with us) and we discussed getting the ribbon made. He said that there would be no problem in making them from copper (although it might not be tin plated) and we settled on the dimensions: 2.5mm wide and 125 to 150 microns thick. In a few days we might have ribbon enough to continue making PV modules. We have already finished ten of the 60 watt ones and one 30 watt module from broken cells cut in half, and are making cell phone chargers while we wait for the ribbon to continue the production of the big modules. On Tuesday the 21st, we begin installing the finished modules and will probably do three installations by the time we finish the course on Friday the 24th. Irfan told me that there is a waiting list of people who have already spoken for 60 modules, so the cottage industry is well under way. However, we are still working on the problem of how to get larger quantities of the liquid silicon encapsulant we use instead of the EVA and the big laminating machine.

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‘Drip irrigation, solar energy is future of Pakistan’: The News

By By Shahid Husain
Mithi, (Trarparkar): In village Wandhanjo Wandu, Nagarparkar, one is amazed to find that a local farmer Mohabat is cultivating his 6-acre land with solar energy and is earning Rs300 daily through the sale of vegetables alone.

“I had this piece of land since long but it was lying barren for non-availability of water,” he told The News. “I used to work as a hari (peasant) in Thatta district and was barely able to meet my ends meet. Now I am self-employed person and earn pretty well,” he said.

Mohabat has gown tomatoes, eggplants, onions, chillies and sunflower on his field. He fetched Rs20,000 from the sale of tomatoes alone this year and yield in sunflower was 40 maunds per acre that he sold for Rs1,800 per maund. Similarly, the yield in onion was 60 maund per acre. He fetched Rs250 for every maund of that commodity.

“I use drip irrigation to conserve water and am a happy man now,” he said with a smile.

Known as Lift Irrigation, the project on which Mohabat works was initiated by Thardeep Rural Development Programme (TRDP) and is supported by Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund. The total cost of the project is Rs8,81,526 with a TRDP share of Rs1,78,926 and PPAF share of Rs7,02,600.

“Had I used a motor to lift water I would have needed at least 10 litres of diesel that would have been very expensive,” he said.

Similarly, in a village called Singharo, some 55km from district headquarter Mithi; poor villagers are fulfilling their requirements of drinking water through seven solar panels powering pumps that lift underground water. At least 60 houses of the small village of 2000 people are not only getting their thirst quenched courtesy to solar energy but are also making money through sale of tomato, brinjal, cumin and other vegetables.

Again the project has been a collaboration of TRDP and PPAF. The solar pumps work for 10 hours between 10am and 4pm every day and women are seen collecting water from the water tank.

The well is 170 feet deep. Previously village women would fetch water from the deep well through camels and donkeys and it was a tedious job. Now solar energy is being used to do the job.

Apparently, installing solar panels for the impoverished people of Tharparkar appears to be a costly affair but if one keeps in view that the great desert of Pakistan bordering the Great Indian Desert always has a blazing sun, one is bound to agree with enthusiasts relying on non-exhaustible sources of energy.

“Drip irrigation is the future of Pakistan. It means we have to learn water conservation and this can improve the lot of poor farmers,” said Dr. Sono Khangharani, Chief Executive Officer TRDP.

“In 90 per cent areas in Tharparkar we can avail solar energy and the later can play a vital role not only in provision of electricity, cultivation but can also help in job creation, poverty alleviation and in giving a boost to local economy,” said Dr. Khangharani.

“The use of solar energy in Tharparkar will also result in reverse migration,” he said.

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Pakistan, Canada discuss cooperation in solar energy: The News

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Canada have discussed ways and means to enhance cooperation in promoting solar and green energy generation in Pakistan.

A five-member delegation of Canadian Solar Incorporation (CSI), headed by the Special Adviser to Immigration Minister of Canada Wajid Khan, called on Chairman National Vocational & Technical Education Commission (NAVTEC) Adnan A Khwaja in his office at the Prime Minister’s secretariat here on Tuesday.

During the meeting, ways and means were discussed to promote collaboration between the two countries to increase the volume of solar and green energy generation in Pakistan. Solar energy is generally considered as the energy of the future due to its enormous benefits.

Khwaja told the delegation that currently Pakistan was facing an acute energy shortage and would welcome any initiative from the Canadian firm to set up solar units and train solar technicians.

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Pakistan Considers A Solar Power Future: Energy Matters

Currently in the throes of an energy crisis due to a massive reduction in hydro-electric power generation, Pakistan is looking towards solar energy to make up the deficit.On Friday, China offered a partnership for generating and manufacturing solar power equipment in Pakistan to help meet its growing power shortages.

China says it is ready to send technicians to assist with the introduction and manufacturing of cost effective solar panels in the country as a means of not only addressing energy issues but also to create many new job opportunities in Pakistan.China's courting of Pakistan may upset the Australian coal industry's apple cart as the industry has already expressed interest in setting up two 1000 MW coal fired power plants in the country.

It could be seen as somewhat ironic that the environmental and energy issues facing Pakistan, which go hand in hand, are related to climate change; a phenomenon that's been attributed to greenhouse gas emissions such as those created by the burning of coal.

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China, Pakistan Plan Solar Partnership to Face Energy Crisis: Red Green and Blue

In an effort to tackle Pakistan’s growing energy shortage, representatives of the burgeoning Chinese solar industry have offered to cooperate with the country on a high profile partnership to manufacture solar energy equipment.

The offer was made at a press conference to promote the 2010 International Solar Cities Congress, to be held in Shangong province. Speaking at the event, Huang Ming, Vice‑President of the International Solar Energy Society said, “Pakistan and China are like brothers. We are eager to promote our solar energy industry in Pakistan.”

Outlining the proposed plan, Yuan Xiuhe, Deputy Mayor of Dezhou City, detailed a three-point plan intended to move the project forward. The first step, he said, was the readiness of Chinese solar power companies to establish offices in Pakistan. Secondly, he said, China is also ready to send a team of technicians from the prominent Hinin Group to set up the manufacturing of high‑quality cost effective solar energy equipment in Pakistan. Finally, the establishment of joint-ventures between Chinese and domestic companies would cement the partnership and promote a solid future for solar power in the country.

Image Credit - Mike Weston via flickr.com on a Creative Commons license

For more on this article, please click on the following link: China, Pakistan Plan Solar Partnership to Face Energy Crisis: Red Green and Blue

Pakistan's Energy Crunch: American Chronicle

Saad Sarwar Muhammad
July 15, 2008

Cheap and reliable sources of energy are the driving force for any economy. In the current climate of the world where the limited supply of fossil fuels and the high energy demands is already causing havoc to the world economy, it is about time we thought of alternate sources of energy as the only real option left.

A developing country like Pakistan can ill afford to ignore the importance of alternate sources of energy and the role hydel power can play for Pakistan if harnessed properly. Pakistan is naturally blessed with a terrain that boasts some of the highest mountain ranges in the world which also serve as the sources for all of its rivers. Pakistan possesses K2 which is the second highest point on the earth with the water going all the way to sea level through a course of hundreds of miles. Water coming from such high sources serves as huge repositories of potential energy which can be harnessed not only to produce cheap energy but also as water conservation projects for agriculture. Right now millions of cusecs of water is wasted in our rivers and thrown out straight to the sea without much use. It is high time Pakistan thought of constructing small dams and water reservoirs for electricity production and agricultural purposes all over the country. Even rain water should be conserved in special reservoirs purpose built for the monsoon season which can also serve to make deserts and vast areas of Baluchistan green. Pakistan should go all out for these energy projects so that none of the industrial units or houses and businesses in Pakistan are ever out of energy. Pakistan should set its energy target as double its actual needs in order to be the best growing economy in the world. Which it could easily be, if the cost of factors of production are lowered. Pakistani textile industry always complains of power outages and high costs of energy. If we use hydel power and alternate sources of energy we can even lower cost of utilities for all Pakistanis and give something back to our populace through better energy management thereby becoming a true welfare state.

For more on this article, please click on the following link: Pakistan's Energy Crunch: American Chronicle