Environment Friendly 300KW on gird Solar System of Hazara University

Hazara University Mansehra has successfully commissioned 300 KW on-grid solar system worth Rs. 37.2 Million in the year 2022. The solar system was completed within a time frame of five months and was inaugurated by former Education Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mr. Kamran Khan Bangash and Secretary Higher Education Mr. Dawood Khan. This project is not only supplying electricity power to six academic blocks of Hazara University but also the surplus electricity is being fed into WAPDA power generation through net metering mechanism. NEPRA has also provided license to Hazara University for generatin of renewable energy for Seven years till the year 2029. The project will definitely elevate the ranking position of Hazara University in the evaluation of UI Green Metric

This solar energy project of Hazara University Mansehra is first of its kind among all universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The same project has reduced electricity load shedding and improved voltage in the vicinity of the university thus benefitting local community.

According to Director Works, Engr. Muneer Ahmad; whole world is currently facing energy crises and abrupt climate change, Pakistan is also included in the list of 10 countries that are most affected by climate change in the world. To mitigate climate change and to coup up with the country’s ongoing energy crises, a solar system comprising of 2x 50KW and 2x 100KW on-grid solar system has been installed by Hazara University. According to him, solar energy is the best option for energy production because this renewable energy is generated directly from sunlight and it is an inexhaustible source while energy generation from other sources like coal, gas, oil and water are depleting ozone layer due to their non-environmental friendly fators.

Adding to his comments, he also informed regarding the financial savings of the university, in about 14 Months of this system, installed solar panels have generated electricity worth Rs. 19.50 Million, which has not only compensated the university’s bill, but has generated excess electricity more than its own requirement and has sold WAPDA an approx. Rs. 2 Million electricity through its net metering system. The solar system is connected with an android mobile application which is being monitored by the technical staff in real time.

Environmentalist Dr. Irum Gul who is currently working as an Assistant Professor in department of Earth and Environmental Sciences of Hazara University has also shared her views regarding the environmental factors; she added that energy generated from water and coal is not only producing carbon dioxide but it is also depleting our natural resources. While energy that is generated from solar and wind is environment friendly and has considerable cost effective solutions. She further spoke that, Hazara University is very keen about the environment and has worked on various projects to prevent climate change in the past as well.

Dr Irum further elaborated that in the time span of 14 months the solar system installed in Hazara University being green source of energy has saved 132 tons of coal combustion and thus 345 tons of carbon dioxide production if the same amount of electricity was to be produced from other energy sources. In simple terms, the amount of carbon dioxide produced by 23,000 trees is minimized to zero due to these solar panels.

Hazara University’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mohsin Nawaz said that this project has a payback period of 3- Years and the system will successfully reimburse its own cost within stipulated time period. He further added that clean and green energy discourages production of any pollution and ultimately leads to economic development of a country.

According to Dr. Mohsin, in this era of climate change and environmental crises, adoption of green energy is the need of the hour, all major institutions should shift to this sustainable energy and gain financial and environmental benefits.

Summing up this great initiated of Hazara University, Prof. Dr. Mohsin expressed that is been a great experience the university administration plans to shift completely to solar energy in the near future to contribute to the sustainable environment, mitigate energy crises, coup up with economic crises and climate change.