Dr Tariq Munner, renowned scholar of the Napier University Scotland, UK, has said Pakistan, an energy deficient country, by exploiting abundant potentials of renewable energy sources particularly Solar energy available in the country could minimise the energy deficiency.
Speaking at a seminar on 'Application of Solar Energy in Pakistan' organised by the Directorate of Continuing Education, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology at Jamshoro on Thursday, he said that Pakistan's energy sector mostly relied on the import of oil which was a serious strain on the country's economy. It also increased the cost and reduced the per capita energy consumption in the country to its lowest ebb.
He said that it could be judged by the fact that Pakistan's population, contributing 2.5percent of the total world population, consumed only 0.5percent of the total energy consumption in the world. On the other hand United States had 5percent share of the total world's population and used 25percent of the total energy consumption in the world.
He said indigenous reserves of oil and gas were limited and would get exhausted after 12 and 21 years respectively. Fossil fuels were also environment unfriendly and their production and consumption degraded the environment. 'Global climate change is a major international environmental issue and has adverse effects on human beings. Coal utilisation requires clean technologies, which are not successful at this level in Pakistan as such, Pakistan is left with only two options, renewable energy sources and nuclear power," he added.
Pakistan is rich with solar energy, average solar irradiation is 5.6 kWh/m2/day, which is 2.5 times higher then in UK. Solar energy can be effectively used in Pakistan for water heating, space heating and cooling, power generation through PV, Hydrogen production, lighting of buildings etc. Domestic and Industrial sectors are the major consumers of energy in Pakistan and solar energy can contribute significantly in these sectors.
He emphasised on the indigenisation of solar technologies, as the labour cost in Pakistan was low, therefore, cost of solar energy system would also be low, moreover it would create more employment opportunities for the people of rural areas at their door steps. He suggested that Pakistan should not wait for the cost reduction but start research and develop demonstration Models. He said there were bright prospect for solar energy use in Pakistan. Government, politicians and varsities could play whittle role for the development of solar energy technologies in Pakistan.
He expressed gratitude to Higher Education Commission (HEC), NED University Karachi and Engr Khanji Meghwar, PhD Scholar Department of Mechanical Engineering MUET for inviting him.