Experts stress on saving energy to bridge demand-supply gap

In the absence of viable alternatives, this is the only option.


Waqas Naeem February 06, 2013
Participants lamented the role of government institutions and civic agencies in taking the lead in terms of energy conservation and production. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD:


It might seem strange to ask consumers to conserve energy when most of them spent 2012 braving hours of loadshedding and an energy shortfall that peaked at 8,500 megawatts (MW) this past summer. Yet, experts suggest we ought to save more.


Efforts to pass an energy conservation bill in the National Assembly have suffered because of devolution and administrative changes in the Water and Power Ministry, said Asad Mahmood, technical manager of the state-run National Energy Conservation Centre (ENERCON). If passed, the energy conservation act will call for mandatory energy audits of commercial centres and industrial units.

It would enable the formation of a Pakistan Energy Conservation Council with the power to form a national policy on energy conservation, approve energy standards, encourage indigenous technologies for energy efficiency and enforce the act, he stated. “ENERCON will be the focal federal authority which will help the council in implementation of energy conservation programmes as well as imposing fines on violators.”

Dr Ashfaq Ahmed Sheikh, the additional registrar at the Pakistan Engineering Council’s professional development department said the Pakistan Engineering Council has introduced energy provisions in building codes which have not been formally approved yet. A notification is awaited from the law ministry after which the Ministry of Water and Power will move a summary to the Cabinet for approval, he added.



For now, the provisions, which aim to save energy in yet-to-be constructed buildings through energy-efficient building design and materials, will be applied to large-scale consumers.

During the questions and answers session, the conversation quickly moved to alternative energy sources and their associated costs. Some participants suggested solar power should only be used during loadshedding in urban areas.

According to one conservative estimate, a solar panel costs Rs700-900 per watt and the cost doubles for a solar system that includes inverters and batteries. That is around Rs70,000 to Rs140,000 for a household with a load of 1,000 watts, said an official.

Participants also lamented the role of government institutions and civic agencies in taking the lead in terms of energy conservation and production.

Last October, the cabinet division launched a water, electricity and gas conservation campaign, which was to be followed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) as well, but neither has made their energy audit public.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2013.

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