Renewable energy usage increases globally: BICEFE
LAHORE: Solar and wind energy usages are now growing fast enough to meet the ever increasing global needs of electricity, and in a way it marks the beginning of a shift where clean power is keeping pace with demand growth.
Board of Industrial Collaboration to Enhance Fashion Exports(BICEFE) Chairperson Mian Kashif Ashfaq expressed these views while addressing a seminar on “Impact of Renewable on National Economy” at a local hotel on Sunday.
He said renewable share of global electricity rose to 34.3 percent in the first half of the last year, while coal fell to 33.1 percent and gas maintained its 23 percent share.
Solar and wind farms generated more electricity than coal for the first time on record last year, and this surge in renewable use marks a milestone in efforts to turn away from fossil fuels, which are responsible for most of the greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change, he maintained.
Quoting a report, he said, solar power generation jumped by a record 31 percent in first half of last year far outpacing wind, which grew 7.7 percent and coal fell by 0.6 percent while global gas generation inched down by 0.2 percent.
He said Pakistan has emerged one the leading country in the world where industrial units are being switched over to solar with fast pace followed by domestic consumers which, he added, playing key role in mitigating the looming impact of climate changes. He said government prudent policies are yielding positive impact showing good indicators.
Mian Kashif Ashfaq said there is vast potential for promotion of wind power in Pakistan, which needs to be fully patronized and finally integrated with our national grid to provide cheaper power. APP
