With reference to "NPCC accused of using expensive power plants in August" (BR Oct. 7) and an absurd response from NTDC, justifying use of inefficient furnace oil power plants (BR Oct. 9). This present scenario is typical of our energy sector when we favour our inefficient and highly polluting IPPs who stand to gain so much at the nation's cost. The cost is both financial and worse, enormous damage to our environment, with discharge of oxides of sulphur and nitrogen damaging our agricultural sector. We seem to be so helpless! How can such decisions be accepted when we already have a huge circular debt because of expensive power from inefficient power plants, and of course, the adverse affect of power and fuel theft?
We do not realize that failure to address our energy issues is leading us to a negative spiral which is affecting our very existence as economic disability can only lead us to total slavery.
What is really missing in the energy equation? Do we ever hear of the magic words "efficiency" and "conservation"? Total absence of even basic concepts of high efficiency and energy conservation has brought us to this abyss. We have no concern what is happening in power plants, specially the much-advertised gas-operated combined cycle plants and the large number of coal-fired power plants, designed for low efficiency and high, very high environmental pollution. It will be very revealing if all major thermal power plants publish monthly average values of efficiency (with heat rate/fuel costs), water consumption with costs, quantities of discharged polluting oxides of sulphur, nitrogen and carbon and maintenance costs. We need to know how damaging each power plant is, which might encourage Combined Heat and Power Systems (with very high efficiency), resulting in lower costs as well as reduced pollution) in thousands of industries and building complexes and wide usage of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Plants which could provide base power at equivalent to US 5 to 6 cents per kWH, all at lowest overall pollution.
There is no doubt that we will have to develop all technologies relating to energy conservation and economically attractive renewable energy sources if we ever want low-cost energy to build our economy and get rid of the huge energy-related circular debt. Though we have lost a lot of time in encouraging this environment-friendly and economical option of power generation, it is never too late to accept a good option!
It is recommended that we urgently start work on the option of efficient combined heat and power system, both on utility scale as well as in industries and large commercial building complexes, specially covering those projects which were sanctioned gas to be used only with combined heat and power system with declared very high efficiency.
We need to change and since the government of change is presently in-charge, we really need to adopt efficiency and conservation as our watch-words.
Buildings and industrial sector consume enormous energy resource and yet we do not find any attempt to build energy efficient buildings for which Pakistan Building Codes have been introduced since 1987! How is this possible is not the question to be asked.
Looking ahead, with my experience of teaching High Performance Green Building requirements to future architects for the last 20 years, change will come as the young architects "challenge" the old mindsets but time is not on our side. We need sensible and enforceable legal support to encourage the young architects who are our hope for the future well-being of Pakistan, similar to the young generation who are struggling and sacrificing for a better Pakistan
Energy conservation is essential for our existence. Time to take control of our ailing energy sector?
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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