Solar power plant inaugurated at COMSATS Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Rana Tanveer Hussain on Wednesday inaugurated the 100KW solar energy power plant at the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT).

The federal minister who is also the chancellor of the CIIT inaugurated the plant located on the rooftop of the Electrical Engineering Department at the Islamabad campus.

The institute had initiated the pilot project to establish a 100 KW solar power generation plant, using photovoltaic technology and will serve as a trailblazer for the use of clean energy and also act as an experimental station for electrical engineering students and faculty.

Rana Tanveer Hussain said the menace of load shedding was disturbing and energy shortage not only affected the common man but also made industry uncompetitive. Therefore, he said that the government had decided to increase investment in the energy sector.

“I am pleased that the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) has taken a step in the right direction through creating a demonstration effect for utilizing renewable energy,” he said appreciating the efforts the institute.

He congratulated the Rector, Dr. SM Junaid Zaidi, and his team in conceiving and implementing the project.

Mr. Tahir Naeem, Director Planning, Development and Human Resource Development, said that the main objective of the solar power generation plant was to lead the way for research and development purposes in renewable energy.

He said that the project also was intended to serve as a source of inspiration for other intuitions to follow suit and take similar initiatives, and with will make a big green impact on the environment.

Mr. Naeem informed that the contract had been awarded on a ‘turnkey basis’ after completing all necessary formalities at a cost of Rs. 26.8 million, of which only thirty percent has been paid and the remaining seventy percent will be paid in twenty quarterly installments over the next five years.

In charge CIIT Islamabad Campus, Prof. Raheel Qamar, said the solar energy power plant at CIIT has been envisioned to produce 150,000 KWh of electricity annually and provide clean energy.