Country’s second wind energy project initiated

Turbine installed at Daman-e-Koh peak.

ISLAMABAD: A turbine has been installed at Daman-e-Koh peak in Islamabad, as part of the country’s second wind energy project.

With a life of 20 years, the turbine will generate two kilowatts (KW) of energy and is expected to recover its production costs in the first year of operation. The locally designed wind energy turbine will cost Rs200,000 per KW, which is considerably less than the imported turbine, which would cost Rs1 million per KW.

AGECO Limited had earlier installed the first wind energy turbine to power traffic signals at the F-7 crossing in Islamabad. The company has planned to generate enough wind energy to supply electricity for street lights and traffic signals of the capital.

Engineering Development Board (EDB) CEO Aitazaz A Niazi termed the project a landmark achievement and said efforts to grant more concessions to the firm are already under way.

Niazi added that EDB had been carrying out an assessment of existing capabilities of local manufacturers for manufacturing wind turbine components and the possibilities of future expansion.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2011.