AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY:
Between 1990 and 2010, the number of people with access to electricity has increased by 1.7 billion, and as
the global population continues to rise so will the demand for cheap energy. A global economy reliant on
fossil fuels, and the increase of greenhouse gas emissions is creating drastic changes to our climate system.
This is impacting every continent.
Efforts to encourage clean energy has resulted in more than 20 percent of global power being generated by
renewable sources as of 2011. But still one in five people lack access to electricity, and as the demand
continues to rise there needs to be a substantial increase in the production of renewable energy across the
world.
Ensuring universal access to affordable electricity by 2030 means investing in clean energy sources such as
solar, wind and thermal. Adopting cost-effective standards for a wider range of technologies could also
reduce the global electricity consumption by buildings and industry by 14 percent. This means avoiding
roughly 1,300 mid-size power plants. Expanding infrastructure and upgrading technology to provide clean
energy in all developing countries is a crucial goal that can both encourage growth and help the
environment.
"We all know that energy is central to the achievement of both the development agenda and the Paris
agreement on climate change," Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi, "Effective and comprehensive implementation
of the energy goal is, therefore, both important and urgent," she said while chairing the opening session of
the meeting.
As renewable energy is now the cheapest form of electricity generation in Pakistan, the government could
reduce its reliance on expensive power plants and fossil fuel imports in favour of cleaner, more accessible
electricity for people and businesses.
A report, “Pakistan’s Power Future: Renewable Energy Provides a More Diverse, Secure and Cost-Effective
Alternative,” produced by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), examines the
current energy system in Pakistan while suggesting an alternative energy model for 2030.
The report finds that Pakistan’s current power mix has an over-reliance on outdated fossil fuels technology
and seasonal hydro-power generation, roughly split in a ratio of 70:20:10, being 70pc thermal and 20pc
hydro, with nuclear power making up most of the rest.
IEEFA’s proposed energy model to 2030, aimed at providing a cheaper, more diversified electricity
generation system for Pakistan and therefore greater energy security, is roughly split in a ratio of
30:30:30:10 between 30pc renewables, 30pc thermal, 30pc hydro, and 10pc nuclear power.
“The current energy model puts a huge cost burden on consumers, businesses and the cash-poor government of
Pakistan through an over-reliance on expensive fossil fuel imports and costly hydro, nuclear and coal-fired power
plants often being built well over budget,” Nicholas said.
IEEFA’s modelling suggests the Pakistan government can achieve almost 30pc renewable energy generation
by 2030, through proven clean energy technology already in place in Pakistan.
Nicholas said, “By relying more on cheaper renewable energy, the 2030 model reduces the cost pressures of
imports and delayed projects, creating the setting for government to attract investment in the abundant
domestic wind and solar resources yet to be harnessed.”
The year 2017 was a landmark for emerging economies globally. For the first time renewable energy
accounted for the majority of all new power capacity additions added, including 94 gigawatts (GW) of wind
and solar out of a total of 186 GW of capacity added in emerging economies.
“Given the massive deflationary trend of renewables globally, and with the right policy settings, Pakistan can
increase reliance on renewable energy,” Nicholas concluded.
