Business

Solar panel prices drop 80%

Govt asked to announce renewable energy tariff for residences.

Our Correspondent October 13, 2012

ISLAMABAD:

Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) Managing Director Arif Alauddin has said prices of solar panels have dropped 80% over the last five years, making alternative energy attractive for the consumers.

“We should avail of the opportunity and switch to solar energy to overcome the energy crisis,” he stressed while speaking at the International Exhibition and Conference on Alternative Energy and Energy Efficiency, organised by the Renewable and Alternative Energy Association of Pakistan here on Saturday.

As the country was generating power at an average rate of Rs20 per unit, Alauddin said the consumers could have cheaper electricity with the help of solar applications.

Despite the decrease in the cost of battery, the solar panels were still expensive, but the consumers could take benefit of them in day time, he suggested.

Speaking on the occasion, Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) Chairman Hameedullah Jan Afridi, who also inaugurated the conference, called on the government to announce much-awaited residential renewable energy tariff and provide easily accessible financing options for promoting renewable energy culture in the country.

The government has announced upfront tariff for wind power plants, but it has yet to announce the tariff for solar power.

He described the residential upfront tariff (feed in tariff) coupled with easy financing options as essential factors, which were a must for developing the renewable energy culture. “Sadly, we are lacking on both these points.”

He said, “we need to ponder how to provide renewable energy financing as well as micro financing for rural electrification.”

“Once we have put the residential FiTs (feed in tariffs) and financing in place, I am sure and very hopeful that soon we will be very successful and serve as a role model for other developing nations to follow as far as renewable energy is concerned.”

The vast array of renewable energy technologies includes bio-energy, waste to energy, hydropower and so on. To encourage the renewable energy industry, the government has zero-rated almost all renewable energy equipment and components.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2012.

COMMENTS (2)

evacuated tube panels | 12 years ago | Reply

Solar panels are getting cheaper,and that a good news! And solar companies are turning their attention to reducing the cost of installing them.Solar is more attractive than other forms of alternative energy.

Shah Kamal | 12 years ago | Reply

Due to poor managment, and due to crupt culture in our country, big bosses are least intrested to look problem of common man and indutry.

A multinational company have installed more than 350kw solar power, they applied for tarif. who knows that some one is working on it or not. and when they have.

my only qustion to big boss is do they are manufacuring some thing in their office to evaluate solar tarif to them,.

if they all sit on a table, it need only two to three hour to complete. but this is only possible when there is WILL.

but there is no will but they have pocket with out any cover some one do it it so they move it.

This is ground realities. behind all problem for development of solar or wind power in Pakistan.

Million worth of solar light, batteres, pumps are hold up by custom, not accepting AEDB exemption letter. they have nonsence reason led light indoor allowed, out door not allowed, battery must be printed with solar battery, pump shoild also be printed on it solar pump.

there is no technical person in custom, they are masters degree holders how to make money not for country, but .....

God bless Pakistan

Replying to X