Green energy, Renewable Energy (RE) of Pakistan is snowballing with every passing day and reach up to 2626 MW by the end of 2018.

“Planned projects of wind power projects of 1200 MW and solar power projects of around 1400 MW capacity will add 2,600 MW by 2019-20,” Amjad Ali Awan, Chief Executive Officer, Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) said on a visit at Jhimpir wind power projects based in Sindh’s Thatta district.

AEDB is the focal agency of Federal Ministry of Water and Power mandated with the promotion and development of Alternative & Renewable Energy Technologies in country. Awan said Pakistan was to harness existing Renewable Energy (RE) potential to branch out its energy mix and safeguard country’s energy security and sustainable development. “Pakistan’s RE turns out to be investment starting point for private investors and has engrossed more than US 4.6 billion from foreign investors,” he added.

Pakistan for the first time was included in the top 40 globally most attractive countries for renewable energy investment as per the E&Y Renewable Energy Attractiveness Index (RECAI) issue, produced by Ernst & Young, May 2016 because of the efforts of AEDB, he claimed.

“Pakistan’s ranking has been tremendously improved from 38 to 25 number according to latest RECA Index issued by E&Y. This is convincing evidence that Pakistan is an attractive market for investors in alternative energy sector,” he added.

Awan informed that AEDB and World Bank jointly implementing a Renewable Energy Resource Mapping activity all across Pakistan.  Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) world bank has funded the project and emphasizes on the assessment of wind, solar and biomass resources, with ground-based data collection, GIS analysis, and geospatial planning.

Latest version of sole maps has been developed first time in Pakistan based on the ground-based data. Solar maps give an overall idea of power generation potential based upon solar energy resources in the country.

“Wind data has been collected by installed wind masts regarding wind energy resources of country, and wind maps are expected by next year,” he added.