IPS, AEDB, GIZ to join hands for a study on grid-tied solar PV systems in Pakistan

IPS is joining hands with Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB)-Ministry of Energy (Power Division) and GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)-Pakistan to conduct a research study on quality baseline assessment of grid-tied solar PV systems in Pakistan, aiming to streamline PV systems quality in the country.

Previously conducted by IPS, a similar research study demonstrated a vital look-over of quality baseline defined for PV systems, which include subpar technology, non-compliance of international standards, malpractices by the solar vendors and issues associated with the technical integration of PV systems with the grid.

The research activity recently planned under the program of Pakistan-Germany Renewable Energy Forum (PGREF) is meant to assess the quality of PV systems installed at the utility scale and evaluation of standards set by international codes of grid integration. Moreover, IPS shall be assisting GIZ-Pakistan in erection and commissioning of a 50 kW PV system to be installed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad as a gift from the Federation of Germany to Pakistan.

The introductory meeting for the purpose was held at AEDB on August 3, 2021 in which the activity plan and implications were discussed in detail. The issues associated with the grid integration were analyzed and potential recommendations were discussed aiming to snub quality non compliance of PV systems. The meeting was attended by Sheeraz Anwar Khan, director Wind/Distributed Generation, Syed Aqeel Hussain Jafri, director Policy & International Compliance, and Muhammad Yaseen, deputy director-Solar Thermal from AEDB, while GIZ-Pakistan was represented by Technical Advisor Asif Fareed. The team from IPS comprised GM-IPS Naufil Shahrukh, Dr Hassan Abdullah Khalid, technical Lead & PV Expert, and the Institute’s Energy program team Mohammad Wali Farooqi and Hamza Naeem.