Pakistan’s largest solar power plant is progressing towards commissioning as solar PV modules for the project were delivered last week.
China-based JA Solar Holdings delivered 100 MW of solar photovoltaic modules for the Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, the company announced last week. The power plant is envisaged to have an installed capacity of 1,000 MW by the end of 2016, while its first leg (of 100 MW) is expected to the commissioned soon. The project will be Pakistan’s largest solar power project.
Located in the eastern province of Punjab, the project is expected to benefit from the high solar radiation available in the area. The Punjab province borders the Indian state of Rajasthan, which is among the leading solar power states in India and is home to several large-scale solar PV and solar thermal power projects.
Pakistan has been facing a considerable power deficit for several years now. Earlier this year, power companies in the countries were forced to implement load shedding for as long as 18 hours a day, kicking off protests in several cities. Once fully commissioned in 2016, the project is expected to make significant improvement in the country’s power sector. At an assumed plant load factor of 19%, the project would be able to generate approximately 1.6 billion kWh on an annual basis.
The Chinese government and Chinese companies have played an important role towards improving the power sector infrastructure in Pakistan. The two countries have signed several agreements to implement power projects and expand the transmission network in Pakistan.
China-based TBEA SunOasis was awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for the Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park; the company will also be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the project. In August this year, another Chinese company, Clenergy International, won a contract to supply mounting structures for solar PV modules to be installed in the project.
Hopefully, the Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park will be the first of several solar power projects in Pakistan, as the country has massive solar power potential waiting to be tapped. According to a report by US AID, the country has an estimated wind and solar energy potential of 143,000 MW.
Source: https://cleantechnica.com/2014/12/14/ja-solar-delivers-100-mw-solar-pv-modules-pakistans-largest-solar-power-project/
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