In the last post, I gave you an overview of the green energy possibilities in this region. I also wrote that wind energy is the next big thing in green energy sector. In the following lines, I have tried to present before you some pragmatic ways of exploiting the vast wind energy potential we are blessed with. The scribbling has also got more importance in the wake of recent ‘explosion’ of petrol bomb in Pakistan (of course I am referring to massive raise in gasoline prices).

According to recent research conducted by the Alternative Energy Development Board, Pakistan’s wind corridors span over most parts of the coastal belt. Just to quote an example, the region between Karachi and Hyderabad itself has a 60 km wide and 180 km long wind corridor. Now this area can be converted into a huge wind farm as the power generation potential stands at 50,000 MWs per annum. We have not yet discussed the wind energy possibilities in the Balochistan province which extends from the coastal region to the Chaghai hills.

AEDB conducted a study of Pakistan’s wind farming potential - with USAID assistance - which puts the country’s wind energy potential at magnanimous levels. Even many areas of Punjab, NWFP as well as northern valleys have wind corridors which can generate power amounting to millions of Mega Watts. The only need is the massive exploitation of these resources. AEDB is conducting some pilot projects but on a very basic level.

As Pickens is planning to build the largest wind farm of the world in Texas with targets of meeting up to 20% of U.S. energy needs, we are just biting our nails. While we can expect little from the government, all we need is the involvement of the corporate sector which is easier said then done. During the second-term of Benazir’s government, IPPs (Independent Power Producers) were allowed to generate electricity and later sell it to WAPDA.

Can we invite the potential wind farming investors in a similar fashion? Yes, but we have to etch out a proper strategy before going out in the market. Wind farming is both cheap and costly. The initial expenditures, which require huge wind farming infrastructure to be installed if we want to generate thousands of Mega Watts, can go into millions and millions of dollars. Once fully functional, an industrial wind farm requires little maintenance and expenditures.

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