Floating Solar Power Project in Sindh in Expanding Thames with Government of Sindh's Help, finally it will generate green energy through Solar Power Project.
In the near futuristic days Keenjhar, an area of 36 km from thatta city, will take initiation of new high tech solar project will come into function. This initiative by the Sindh’s Department of Energy is the first major move towards renewable energy in the region.
Revolutionary Impact on Sindh's Energy Sector
A floating solar power project, to enhance the energy supply of the province, was also signed here with Go Energy Pvt Ltd of Singapore. Sindh would generate 500 megawatts (MW) in the first phase of the project in next two years.
Floating Solar Panels
The power generated would be directly supplied to K-Electric through the Sindh Transmission and Dispatch Company (STDC)’s network, thereby uplifting the power infrastructure of the entire province.
The project will provide relief to electricity consumers who have been suffering from long hours of load shedding or electricity shortage. The Sindh Energy Minister, Nasir Hussain Shah, while speaking at the signing ceremony, said that the government is serious in improving power infra sustainability for a stable energy supply.
Sindh's Commitment to Renewable Energy
Minister Shah emphasised that the Sindh government has been proactive in mitigating the energy shortages: ‘The Sindh government would like from the federal government that there is sufficient supply of gas to resolve this energy problem in metropolitan areas.
Shah pointed to the transmission line that Sindh is laying on its own: ‘this is the first province which is laying a transmission line, and other provinces are in the licence-taking process.
"Our priority is to complete all the schemes in hand and provide concrete benefits to our public". Shah said of the GPA, reaffirming his government’s resolve to finish its existing projects and improve the lot of Sindh’s residents.
Global and Local Context of Floating Solar Power
The International Energy Agency (IEA) states that global floating solar power capacity reached almost 3GW at the end of 2022. It is set to grow dramatically in the next few years.
According to IEA, in 2023, Sindh has been energetically working to develop its renewable energy capacity by implementing several key projects towards meeting its set targets. Floating solar power project Sindh at Keenjhar Lake is among these projects.
A World Bank report claims that floating solar projects use up to 10 per cent more energy than their ground-mounted counterparts because water promotes evaporative cooling.
Environmental Advantages
The floating solar power project Sindh, another major environmental advantage is that they help to save water evaporation by covering portions of the water surface, which can help to preserve water supplies in reservoirs and other bodies of water in arid regions or during drought periods.
Because they limit the penetration of sunlight to water bodies, floating passive solar arrays can inhibit the photosynthesis of algae, which leads to the harmful growth of the micro-organism, aiding in cleaner water and reducing the amount of water treatment required.
Another key advantage of floating solar is that they do not involve land-clearing and grading involved in ground-mounted systems, making them more environmentally friendly, since less of the existing land and ecosystems must be disturbed.
The heat island effect
Moreover, floating solar panels can be particularly efficient when paired with hydroelectric power plants: the two energy sources complement each other, providing more balanced and reliable production.
When solar power is low because of a cloudy sky, for instance, hydroelectric power can cover for it, and vice-versa, leading to a more stable energy provision system.
Because these panels go on the ground, they increase what’s called the heat island effect, where urban or developed areas become many degrees (Fahrenheit) hotter than surrounding rural areas.
Floating solar, by contrast, will not be installed on land, but on water bodies. The cooler local temperatures can help offset greenhouse emissions. With the introduction of floating solar technology, Sindh is championing innovation and environmental sustainability in Pakistan. It paves the journey towards an energy-secure future