ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: A three-day 6th International Exhibition and Conference on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency kicked off in Islamabad on Thursday aimed at creating awareness among the masses about adopting Renewable Energy equipment.
Some over 90 international and national companies are taking part in the three-day exhibition. These companies have set up their stalls and put on display various equipment including solar water pumps, geysers, air condition, vehicles operating on renewable energy.
While addressing at opening ceremony Member Board of Director and Convener of Net Metering Committee of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) Muhammad Iqbal Ratyal said that an ambitious plan was on card to add 500 MW through net metering in the company region in next five years.
He said that a committee was constituted to prepare a road-map to achieve the ambitious target. However, he said that this plan could not be achieved without the active participation of private sector which needed to be encouraged.
Iqbal Ratyal said that currently IESCO was getting around 2 MW through net metering but lot has to be done in this regard. He said that IESCO has installed 38 net meters so far in its region and was a pioneer in net metering across the country.
He said a joint committee of IESCO and private sector would be set up to accelerate the net metering process.
Earlier, in his welcome address Chairman Renewable and Alternative Energy Association of Pakistan (REAP) Asif Jah said that his organization organized international exhibition every year in Pakistan to promote renewable energy.
He said that besides exhibition, seminar and workshop were also organized for capacity building and create awareness among the people about renewable energy. He said that renewable energy was only the sole solution to cut down power load-shedding in the country. He said that they did not want subsidies rather incentives for promoting renewable energy sector in the country.
Asif Jah stressed the need to implement the policy to discourage import and smuggle sub-standard equipment of renewable energy. He appreciated the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments for providing assistance to convert tube wells on solar water pumping.
The Member National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) Hamayatullah Khan said that global warming posed great threat and there was a dire need to promote renewable energy. He said that Pakistan has a lot of potential to generate over 500 MW from solid waste of Municipal Corporation and the NEPRA would soon announce upfront tariff for solid waste energy.
