Pakistan: Bridging the energy gap with wind

In emerging countries like Pakistan, many people don’t have access to electricity. About 46% of the country’s rural population had no access to electricity in 2018 and the country relies on imported fossil fuels for its energy needs. Thus, the search for a more reliable, environmentally sustainable power supply can help fuel the nation’s economy. Indeed, the country plans to increase the share of modern renewable energy in power generation to 30% by 2030.

The leading OEM had been present in Asia since the 1980s, closely watching the development of the Pakistan market. Soon after the country’s first wind farm became operational, a dedicated team from the company’s Asia Pacific headquarters at Beijing visited Pakistan several times to assess opportunities.

“Siemens Gamesa had proven experience of bringing wind power to new markets and fulfilling the different market demands across the globe. A thorough market analysis on the ground provided valuable insight into the market dynamics, developers’ needs, farm site environment, turbines and toolings ideal for these conditions. On top of that, the team had been committed to providing the advanced wind power technology to Pakistan,” said David Xu, Siemens Gamesa sales manager with responsibility for Pakistan.

The project in Gharo was located near the sea, with strong waves during high tide, potentially washing out a road completely. In addition, temperatures rising to 45⁰C and humidity of up to 90% had degraded the performance of some other wind projects in Pakistan. Moreover, frequent voltage fluctuations in the grid could trip the wind turbines. All this added to the project’s complexity.

“In addition to constructing an internal road network between the turbines, we supported Zephyr to build a road connecting to a public road eight kilometers away. Construction during low tide meant no washouts, and the construction schedule was met,” notes Abdul Noonari, Operations and Maintenance Manager, Siemens Gamesa in Pakistan. “To resolve potential issues from extreme weather and grid instability, it was crucial to get the products specifications right. Lower power rating meant lesser stress on the ventilation and cooling systems. Special care was also needed to ensure the convertors were stable.”

When fully operational at the end of 2021, these wind farms will generate enough clean and affordable electricity to cover the annual needs of up to 600,000 households.

To reinforce its commitment to the market, Siemens Gamesa has also increased its presence and team in the country to support project execution and services.

The successful partnership between Siemens Gamesa and Zephyr has proved that wind power not only contributes to reducing CO2 emissions, it can also be a way to bring safe, reliable and affordable power to new corners of the world where other sources cannot reach, boosting economic growth for millions.