Generation of solar power by people: Govt may not be able to sell electricity after 6 years

ISLAMABAD: A big challenge has emerged for the government after disclosure that 250MW of electricity based on solar panels is being generated every month by the masses.

Generation of solar energy by the masses is a strategy to stay away from the national grid to end reliance on unaffordable national grid electricity.

This means 3,000MW per year is being generated off-the-grid by the masses. After 5-6 years, the government will not be able to sell its electricity which will exacerbate existing capacity payment crisis.

This has been identified by the committee on solarisation and its impact on national grid power. The committee, constituted by the prime minister, is headed by Federal Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik. The minister is likely to brief the PM about the findings and recommendations of the committee in the current week. Representatives of PPIB (Private Power Infrastructure Board), AEDB (Alternate Energy Development Board) and CPPA (Central Power Purchase Agency) are part of the committee, an official privy to the recommendations of the committee told The News.

The committee asked the government to halt process begun by masses to stay off-the-grid, as government is spending billions of dollars on strategic projects.