Message from Chairman PEC Engr. Dr. Muhammad Akram Sheikh

ENGINEER PEC September 2007Hydro-Energy and Water Vision in PakistanEngr. Abdul QayyumIntroductionTomorrow belongs to hydro energy. There are threenaturally compatible types of hydro power (Fig. 1);a. Impoundment like Tarbella and Mangla.b. Diversionlike GBHP Project and, c. Pumped Storage. Pakistan iswell suited for all the three hydro powers, and it, can meetits all present and future electricity requirements only bythis inexpensive type of hydro-energy, due to its uniquesurvival, at least, requires the reversal of this ratio. Ifexploited properly, even in the existing (Tarbella, GBHPProject, Mangla) arrangement, with the introduction ofpumped storage and generation, the annual powershortages can be greatly minimized if not eliminated.Regulated water releases are permitted through all themain hydel power plants in Pakistan. Capabilities ofTarbela, Mangla and Barotha remain as 760 MW (loadfactor= 21%), 400 MW (load factor = 40%) and 580 MW(load factor = 40%) against the installed capacities of3478, 1000 and 1450 MW in winter. The balance ofinstalled capacity in winter and peak demand throughoutthe year is met through thermal generation. Powergeneration, especially after the present oil crises, oil firedstations are the costliest among various thermal power100% Impoundment hydro1-Impoundment20 to 30% wastage in pumping2-Diversion3- PumpedStorage70 - 80% to grid (or aportion to grid and theremaining to upperreservoir in the formof water/ energystorage system)25 to 30% wastage in pumpingFig 1 - Three efficient types of hydro power generation100% Diversion/ Impoundmenthydrofavorable environment for them. With proper planning, itshould be possible for Pakistan to export this type of hydroenergy.A careful study has shown that the total potential ofhydro energy in the world is not less then 15 billion MW.Out of this, only 20% has yet been exploited and most ofthe unused and untapped hydro potential is in the underdeveloped/developing countries. Pakistan is one of them.In financial year 2003-2004, the total generation inPakistan was 68,987 MKwh, in which hydel componentwas only 27,358 MKwh (39.6%) and the thermalcomponent was 41,629 MKwh (60.4%). In 2004-2005 thetotal generation was 73,000 MKwh, in which the hydelcomponent was 25500 MKwh and the ratio of hydel to totalwas further decreased to 0.349. Pakistan’s economicalunits. The thermal units also require to be shut down duringannual maintenance.To meet the varying power demands, the provision ofthermal and hydel mix of power stations (plants) is adoptedboth for the improvement of load factor of the base plantand the adjustment of the power generation to match thedaily and seasonal load fluctuation of the national grid. Butincreasing the energy production by the present patterncan not help reduce unit price of electrical energy. Themost reasonable means to increase the productivity ofplants or decreasing the unit cost of energy in Pakistan isthe use of pumped storage plants and generation (Fig 2 &11). When the load enters in base phase (Fig 7) of the plantor when productivity is less due to limited water flows,24