Denmark offers transfer of renewable energy technologies

ISLAMABAD: Denmark on Tuesday expressed its interest in transferring mini and micro power plant technologies to Pakistan to help the country meet its ambitious objective of increasing alternative power generation share in energy mix to 30 percent within a decade.

Ambassador of Denmark to Pakistan Rolf Holmboe shared the proposals for provision of mini/micro power plant technologies during a meeting with Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Petroleum at the Petroleum Division Nadeem Babar.

The country’s energy mix is largely tilted towards thermal sources of power generation with share of renewable in energy mix standing below paltry two percent despite over 100,000 megawatts of hydro and wind power potential.

Share of hydropower generation in energy mix increased 1.4 percentage points year-on-year to 29.2 percent in June 2019, whereas share of coal-based power generation rose to 15.5 percent. Re-gasified natural gas share improved 2.3 percent year-on-year to 27.5 percent. Furnace oil power generation share plunged to a meager 5.3 percent as a result of the government’s policy to cut oil import bill and phase out furnace oil-based power generation. Share of gas declined 1.4 percentage points to 14.3 percent.

Ambassador Holmboe expressed his appreciation on the reforms being undertaken in the energy sector in Pakistan. He lauded the government’s resolve to focus on renewable energy and making good progress on achieving results in the area.

The envoy offered Denmark’s unstinted support and cooperation to Pakistan in partnering for successful execution of renewable energy projects with a focus on hybrid solar and wind power plants in the country.

Denmark is a world leader in renewable energy and is eyeing the Pakistani market with active interest.

Babar said the growing interest in the energy sector has been piqued because of the present government’s emphasis on strict implementation of a renewable energy policy.

The government planned to increase share of wind, solar, biomass and hydropower to 30 percent by 2030.

Babar thanked the Danish ambassador for his country’s offer of assisting Pakistan in the renewable energy sector. “He noted with appreciation Denmark’s interest in Pakistan's energy sector and welcomed any possible investments,” an official statement quoted him as saying.

“Pakistan would also like to collaborate in exploring avenues of transfer of technology in the renewable sector. It is the objective of the present government to ensure tangible results are witnessed in Pakistan’s renewable energy production in the next 20 years,” he added.