Renewable alternative energy - wind-power

Energy is reckoned as the starting step towards the implementation of any plan for prosperity and industrial development.
Pakistan's total installed power generation capacity is 17,728 mw whereas it is projected to be 26,750 mw by the year 2010-2011.
At present, the share of renewable alternative energy in the total energy picture of Pakistan is almost non-existent.
Demand for electricity, particularly inexpensive and cost effective electricity, will continue to grow in coming years, given the present scenario.
Thus, there is a need to develop many of the alternatives and cheaper resources of energy. Wind is the most important renewable, sustainable and emission-free source of energy. One of the oldest widely used resources of energy, wind has recently become the fastest growing energy resource all over the world.
The realisation that fossil fuels are in limited supply has played a dominant role in wind power technological advancement on a large scale, particularly during the last ten years or so.
The related technology, developed over the years, has now proved to be reliable and durable. And technology is continually improving since wind turbines provide a number of benefits as the fuel is free and has neither environmental pollution nor health impacts.
The electricity generated by wind turbines is used for many applications; from large, utility scale power plants to small, single turbines for home or village use. Wind power generation units may be grid-connected to supply electricity to the national system or may stand-alone to provide electricity to remote areas.
More jobs per unit energy are created in this case as compared to other forms of power generation. The limitation of the system is of it being inflexible and intermittent.
Seemingly, the renewed efforts of the government for the promotion and development of alternative energy resources, and simultaneously, creating an environment conducive to investment in Pakistan, are showing positive results, if response to its recent expression of interest for setting up a wind-power plant is any measure.
As many as seventy companies, domestic as well as foreign, are reported to have indicated their interest to participate in the proposed electric power generation project on BOOT basis.
Three wind farms, each of capacity 30 to 40 mw, are planned to be installed near Gharo in Sindh to meet additional industrial power requirements, mainly of Pakistan Steel.
These companies, besides investors, also include reputed manufacturers of wind turbines in Denmark, Germany and the People's Republic of China who are willing to transfer the requisite technology too.
The Alternative Energy Development Board has recently taken salutary measures to harness optimally the potential of commercialisation of these resources, mainly solar and wind, through the creation of a strong base for assimilation of relevant technologies.
Apparently, the Board has been successful in seeking the political will and commitment on the part of stakeholders, that is an essential ingredient for success, but has been lacking so far.
This was the impression gathered from the presentations made in a two-day international meeting on Renewable Energy Technologies and Sustainable Development, held in Islamabad last month, under the aegis of COMSATS.
During the six technical sessions, eminent scholars and experts from Germany, Egypt, the People's Republic of China, Jordan, Sudan and Pakistan deliberated upon, in detail, various aspects of economics, technology, environmental issues and latest developments in the field, in the perspective of developing countries.
The meeting, with focus on the development of wind power generation, was also addressed by the President of World Wind Energy Association, with headquarters in Germany.
A thought-provoking paper was also presented by the representative of Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies, operating under the Ministry of Science and Technology, which is responsible for research, development and promotion of technologies related to alternative resources of energy.
Understandably, the council accords priority to the development of power generation through wind turbines, and has recently acquired technology, as well as financial assistance, from the European and the Chinese sources for the purpose.
Recently, the council has initiated a number of projects in this direction. Small wind turbines, 14 units each of 300 to 500 watts, are already operating in the coastal area of Sindh and Balochistan, whereas additional 100 units of same size are currently being installed.
Another project, being established as demonstration station for rural electrification, comprises 20 wind turbines, each of 5 kw a capacity which are in an advanced stages of installation.
The council also proposes to set up a pilot project of 60 kw near Karachi.
Wind turbines already generate electricity the world over at economically competitive rates. By the end of year 2002, the global wind power generation installed capacity was to be at the level of over 31,000 mw.
Europe operates wind turbines to generate 23,056 mw, with Germany as world leader having an installed capacity of 12,000 mw.
In the USA alone, wind turbines produce more than 4,600 mw electricity annually. There has been a dramatic growth of wind power generation in Germany and Denmark in recent years.
Hundreds of wind turbine producing more than 3,000 mw electricity were commissioned in Germany in early 2002, whereas the country already generated 8,754 mw based on wind, by the end of year 2001.
Similarly, total installed capacity for electricity in Denmark, stemming from wind power, was 2,880 MW in the year 2002, which accounted for 14% of the total electricity consumed. Also, Denmark boasts the world's largest offshore wind farm, which would generate 4,000 mw on completion.
Wind energy costs compare favourably with conventional fossil-fuelled power plants, and costs continue to decline steadily and substantially as technology improves.
In the USA, wind power generation costs have lowered to an average of 2.5 cents per kWh. India claims wind power generation costs between 2 to 2.5 Indian rupees depending upon site conditions. Though many countries produce and supply small capacity wind turbines, at present there are over 30 manufacturers of wind turbines in the range of 250 kw to 2.5 mw each, pre-dominantly in the USA, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand, Australia and Japan.
Interestingly, India is reported to have installed a total capacity of 1,702 mw wind power generation, and there are two domestic manufacturers of wind turbines.
Norway has developed a combined wind/diesel power plant for autonomous power supply, which will reduce fuel cost by 50% to 70%, depending on wind conditions. A Danish company also offers software for designing wind turbine farms.
Pakistan has a 900-km long coastal line with a sizeable wind potential, a wind regime suitable for wind power generation in the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan, as well as in a few northern valleys of the NWFP. Based on available data on wind speed/velocity in these areas, the experts estimate a potential to generate electricity up to 2,000 to 3,000 mw.
In fact, wind power is unlimited and it is up to us to exploit the resource optimally.
In response to the Energy Policy 1994, two American investors, in collaboration with local companies, had shown interest to in establishing wind power projects in Pakistan. Kenetech wind power project, to generate 100 mw electricity, was set up in Balochistan, and the Omega-Zond wind power farm, of 150 mw capacity, was planned for Sindh.
None of the projects could however see the light of the day. In the recent past, Messrs. Vestas of Denmark made a proposal to the Private Power & Infrastructure Board, in association with the local private sector. It is reported that the project was not approved as no feasibility report of the project had been prepared.
In the recent past, an initiative was also taken by the government to establish a 100-150 mw wind farm near Karachi, under UNDP funding for the early stages of the project.
The Ministry of Environment, Local Government and Rural Development had launched the project for which, feasibility was prepared by international agencies.
Lack of necessary infrastructure and non-availability of wind turbines and allied equipment, locally, can seriously hamper efforts to develop wind energy systems.
In Pakistan, engineering units such as the Heavy Mechanical Complex, Pakistan Machine Tool Factory and Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works, and a couple more in the private sector, have the requisite capacity and capability for the manufacturer of wind turbines and accessories.
All components of a wind turbine eg blades, controller, gearbox, shafts, rotor, tower etc can be manufactured at either of these production facilities.
Nonetheless, the selected advanced technology has to be acquired from abroad, as research activities related to atmospheric fluid dynamics, aerodynamics and structural dynamics are involved in the selection of turbine size and configuration.
Having taken an initiative in this direction, the Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies is currently in the process of evaluating proposals for the local manufacture of various capacities of wind turbines under the technology transfer programme.
Also, the newly created Alternative Energy Development Board is negotiating with German and Danish companies for technical co-operation in the setting up wind turbines in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Science and Technology has included wind technology, amongst the selected fields, for award of foreign scholarships to Pakistani engineers and scientists.
Wind energy system offers clean power at a fixed price. It requires moderate capital outlay, short lead time, lower line losses and increased energy efficiency of electricity distribution.
The only negative aspects, in our case, are remoteness of area, poor communications in most of the regions, and low return on investment.
Nonetheless, meteorological studies of the potential sites having been conducted and windmill pumping installations already being successfully operative in the country, the wind energy projects for power generation will be economically viable.
The policy for Power Generation Projects Year 2002 provides fiscal and financial incentives and concessions to small power plants, up to 50 mw capacity, to be implemented through a one-window facility available at the provinces.
According to the policy, small power plants, intending to serve locations not connected or not likely to be connected to the national grid, are to be developed and established by the respective provinces.
There is a need however to create awareness, at the national level, about the benefits of the wind power system. Indeed, if the implementation and performance of these projects in hand is successful, the wind turbine may prove to be a popular energy project in Pakistan for its cheapness, reliability and environmental friendliness.
This will motivate prospective investors to respond to the Power Policy 2002 and establish power projects based on wind resources.
(Engineer Hussain Ahmad Siddiqui is a Member of the Board of Directors, National Engineering Services of Pakistan (NESPAK) and on the panel of experts of the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB), both operating under the Ministry of Water and Power, Government of Pakistan.)