Due to a surge in population and a steady economic growth in Pakistan, the demand for electricity currently exceeds the available power generation. It is estimated that over 140 million citizens either have no access to the power grid or endure significant and daily power interruption. Meanwhile, demand continues to grow rapidly -- at an average annual rate of 8 percent, with a current supply shortfall to its population of approximately 5,500 megawatts ("MW").
The country's total installed electricity capacity is currently about 28,000 MW, with the International Energy Agency forecasting that the demand will reach around 50,000 MW by 2025. To meet this demand and to achieve its ambitious goals of boosting renewable energy from 5 to 25 percent of the country's energy mix by 2030, the government of Pakistan has promoted the adoption of energy efficient and renewable energy generation technologies like hydropower, solar and wind power generation to contribute to alleviating this projected supply-demand imbalance.
ABB has been selected as the turnkey supplier (including design, supply and installation) for the Electrical Balance of Plant substation and to integrate the Wind Turbine Generators to the national grid. ABB will also provide the technology that will convert the wind energy from 22 kilovolts (kV) to 132 kV.
Zephyr is located in the Gharo-Jhimpir wind corridor, a 180 kilometer stretch in the province of Sindh in southern Pakistan where over 1,000 MW of Wind IPP's will be operational by end 2018. When completed the project has the potential to power about 15 million households. This project has the potential to offset 1,460 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Pakistan currently relies on fossil fuels for more than 60 percent of its energy mix and aims to reduce its carbon footprint over the nearer term.
