Rs110m FUUAST solar project hit by technical setbacks

Grid connectivity issues and installation concerns limit expected benefits

KARACHI:

A Rs110 million solar energy project launched at the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST) to slash electricity costs and generate surplus power has reportedly fallen short of its objectives due to technical and administrative shortcomings, raising concerns over the utilisation of public funds and the project's long-term viability.

Funded by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the solarisation project was designed to reduce the university's energy expenses and generate additional revenue through net metering. However, university sources claim the system is operating at only 40 to 50 per cent of its intended capacity and has failed to bring any significant reduction in electricity bills across the university's two Karachi campuses over the past year.

According to sources, the project was installed as an on-grid solar system intended to be connected to the K-Electric network. However, after installation, it emerged that the university did not possess the required load sanction, preventing the system from being linked to the grid and making net metering impossible.

Sources said the university must pay approximately Rs8.5 million per campus to the power utility to obtain the necessary approvals and complete the grid connection process. Until then, only a portion of the electricity generated by the solar system can be utilised directly, while excess generation capacity remains untapped.

The absence of battery storage has further limited the project's effectiveness. Since the system was designed as an on-grid installation, no batteries were included, meaning surplus electricity cannot be stored for later use. During power outages, the university reportedly continues to rely on generators despite having a large solar installation in place.

Concerns have also been raised regarding the quality of the project's execution. Sources allege that substandard wiring and inadequate earthing were used during installation, and claim that photographs and videos documenting these issues have surfaced.

Under the Green Energy Project, a total of 1,050 kilowatts peak (kWp) of on-grid solar capacity was installed across the university's campuses. The initial phase included 250 kWp at the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Campus in Karachi, 220 kWp at the Islamabad Campus, and 80 kWp at the Abdul Haq Campus in Karachi. The project was later expanded with an additional 400 kWp in Islamabad and 100 kWp at the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Campus.