WWEA continues support for Pakistan wind energy market: Market report identifies barriers for further growth
The World Wind Energy Association, in collaboration with Heinrich Böll Stiftung Pakistan (hbs), has launched in Islamabad recently the policy paper:“Mapping the Growth of Pakistan’s Wind Energy Market: Lessons Learned and Policy Solutions” The report analyses the current status of the wind market in Pakistan and presents the main barriers that have been hampering the progress of wind power in the country. The analysis and conclusions are based on personal interviews with private and public stakeholders.
WWEA Honorar Vice President Air Marshal (rtd.) Shahid Hamid: “Our country Pakistan needs desperately energy, and wind power in particular has to be the first choice, also for economic reasons. We are pleased to see that more than a decade after the launch of the first wind power programmes by the Alternative Energy Development Board, the Pakistani wind power market is now developing well although there remains a lot of work to be done, in particular related to grid infrastructure and administration.”
Stefan Gsänger, WWEA Secretary General: “The update of our analysis of the Pakistani wind market comes exactly at the right time: Two weeks ago in Paris, all governments of the world have basically agreed to phase out fossil fuels by the middle of this century and to go for a 100 % renewable energy future – as the new normal. With our new report, we want to assist the government of Pakistan to take the right decision for a prosperous country which obtains all its energy by harvesting the abundance of renewable resources, for the benefit of the people of Pakistan.”
More than two years ago, WWEA, also in cooperation with hbs, had already analysed the main barriers on the way to an energy sufficient country, based on interviews with many of the key players of the Pakistani wind market. Two years later, the new study has analysed which progress has been achieved in the meantime. The first and good news: Pakistan has now become a real wind market, although still rather small.
The second conclusion is that some of the previous problems have been tackled, but there is still some work which needs to be accomplished. According to the interviewed investors, this is the case in particular with regard to grid infrastructure, inconsistency in government policies and operational inefficiency.
Responses from public sector officials remain divided: While there is an increasing awareness of the benefits and low cost of renewable energy, some important units still don’t have the required level of information. Another finding is that the government of Pakistan may support market growth through mobilising financial resources, especially through the Green Climate Fund, and by addressing capacity building needs in particular in the public sector.
