Solar power firm plans to install generation facilities

KARACHI: A solar power generator has come up with an innovative plan, where the company intends to install small-scale solar generation facilities at various premises provided by the buyers of electricity so generated.
Shams Power (Private) Limited has approached the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) for generation of 50MW gross combined capacity of various generation facilities to be installed at the sites of various buyers through Solar PV Modules. The generation facilities to be offered would be at the premises of the buyers' and; therefore, the company does not require purchasing or acquiring a particular site.
Moreover, the electricity so generated would not be sold to any electricity utility or a distribution company.
According to the business plan of Shams Power, it intends to sell electricity to residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural entities through its owned complete off-grid solution of electricity based on solar power. The company would plan, design, procure material, construct, install, operate and maintain generating facilities at sites of the buyers.
Shams Power plans to install various generation facilities at the sites of the buyers and understands that the activity of generation and sale of electricity would take place within the same premises without crossing any other property or requiring the use of transmission or distribution lines.
In its licence application to Nepra, Shams Power said that their generation facilities would not be a replacement for the utility company, but only a partial augmentation.
Shams Power plans to implement the project in phases with Phase-1 comprising 1.2MW and Phase-2 comprising 48.8MW by gradually increasing the number of generation facilities at various sites of the prospective buyers.
The model plant is being set up at Al-Maalik Building rooftop in Lahore. Generation of electricity in Pakistan is largely on furnace oil whose substantial quantity is imported, prices whereof adversely affect the generation in the country. Although natural gas is a cheaper fuel; however, its reserves are depleting rapidly. In these circumstances, the use of solar power in Pakistan appears to be quite an attractive mode of generation of electric power.
Furthermore, its use does not require refining, transporting and conveying fuels and power over long distances. Moreover, solar power does not create pollution.
Naturally, Pakistan is located in the Sunny Belt and can take advantage of its ideal situation for the utilisation of solar energy. The country’s potential for solar generation is beyond doubt, as it has high solar irradiation and enough space for installation of generation system