The Pakistan Solar Association (PSA) Chairman Amir Chaudhry has said they are thrilled to announce their commitment to collaborating with the Government of Pakistan to achieve 60% renewable electricity by 2030. Addressing an event titled Let’s Grow Together on Friday, he said that the PSA recognises the significance of recent initiatives, such as the 10 GW Fast Track projects launched by the Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) and the Energy Ministry last year.

In alignment with this vision, he said that PSA applauds initiatives such as solarising public buildings, tube wells, and 11 kV feeders, each with tremendous potential exceeding 1,000 MW, 2,500 MW, and 2,000 MW, respectively. He said that PSA emphasises the importance of local private sector companies leading in financing these projects, minimising reliance on foreign investors or donors. PSA Former Chairman Rana Abbas said that PSA was eager to collaborate with the government to ensure the success of these projects and actively participate in developing additional initiatives that will contribute to the national energy transition.

One of PSA’s key targets is to reach a significant milestone – installing 4 GW of solar capacity by 2024. This ambitious goal translates to 16 million kWh (units) of solar energy generated daily, resulting in a substantial daily savings of Rs. 800 million and an impressive annual savings of almost Rs. 300 billion on electricity costs. This impact alone, focusing on households, is expected to benefit 800,000 households, marking a notable stride toward a sustainable and cost-effective energy future.

Senior Vice Chairman PSA Zakir Ali said that the solar industry in Pakistan provides employment opportunities for a diverse range of workers, from semi-skilled and low-skilled labourers to graduates and technicians involved in system design and deployment. He also highlighted challenges the industry faces, such as import/LCs issues, which regularly lead to unrest in the industry from Importer to traders to installers to end users and halt the wheel of business. Another challenge is simplifying the net metering process, with the need for a one-window solution and implementing digital application processing.

Former Chairman Muhammad Farhan emphasised the need for enhancement in the skillset of existing installers to improve the quality of installation and the Importance of keeping the solar panels clean and periodic checkups of the solar system to avoid any mishaps. PSA is willing to work with AEDB, NEPRA and relevant authorities to find solutions for the above challenges

PSA is confident that by working closely with the government and local stakeholders, the solar industry will play a pivotal role in propelling Pakistan toward a sustainable, clean energy future, fostering economic growth and job creation.