Pakistan looks to grow solar energy resources with Suntech

Wuxi, China-based Suntech Power Holdings (NYSE:STP) said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Pakistan's Alternative Energy Development Board to help grow the adoption of solar energy technologies to meet the energy shortage in Pakistan.

The 12-member board develops national strategies and policies related to alternative energy resources.

The crystalline silicon photovoltaic module manufacturer said yesterday the objective is to foster cooperation between Suntech and public and private sector companies in Pakistan to help them implement solar programs.

Pakistan’s board offers programs related to rural electrification, developing solar pumping systems with the World Bank, and solar power telecom projects with Pakistani telecom companies.

Pakistan had a 3,500 megawatt energy shortage that continues to grow, according to General Electric, which powered the country’s first sugarcane-waste biogas plant last year with its Jenbacher biogas engines for Pakistan's Shakarganj Mills. The 8 MW cogeneration plant in Jhang supports the sugarcane mill's on-site power and heating requirements (see Pakistan gets first sugarcane-waste biogas plant). 

Suntech designs and delivers commercial and utility scale-solar power systems in China and the United States. Last month, it completed and connected a 10 MW utility-scale solar power project to the grid in China.

The ground mounted project, located in Shizuishan, in western China’s Ningxia Autonomous Region, is in its first phase of a 50 MW solar plant expected to be completed by 2011 (see Suntech launches 10 MW utility-scale solar project in China).