Pakistan\'s foray into renewable energy

Climate-induced calamities are one of the biggest driving forces behind the move towards alternative sources of energy. For a developing country like Pakistan, costs associated with climate change can be unbearable. The recent floods that swept through the country inflicted more destruction than was ever imagined. They also contributed significantly to the economic downfall with the estimated cost of damages going up to nearly $40 billion; a frightening number for a country already struggling to survive economically. Moving towards green energy, however, isn’t just a healthier option – it is also a cost-effective one. Hydel, wind and solar-powered projects, considered renewable, clean and green sources of energy, carry no fuel costs in power tariffs with significantly lower cost of power production than that of dirty fuel-based power plants. Independent Energy Expert, Ammar Khan believes that these solutions can also help Pakistan carve a path leading out of circular debt. “Since renewable energy projects don’t use any fuel, an increase in the number of green projects will help the country gradually take control of the burgeoning circular debt and capacity payments as well,” he said.