LAHORE: Pakistan’s existing thermal power plants could play a role in the country’s transition towards renewable energy, with the possible conversion of suitable generators into synchronous condensers.
This was stated by the participants in a workshop on renewable energy transition.
The LUMS Energy Institute (LEI) organised a consultative workshop to bring together powersector companies, industry representatives and energy experts to discuss the challenges of integrating more renewable electricity into the national grid.
The discussion was based on the LEI report, ‘The Net Zero Transition: A Pathway to Clean and Sustainable Electricity by 2040,’ and focused onmeasures needed to maintain a stable and reliable power system as the share of renewable generation increases.
Representatives from the Ministry of Energy, National Grid Company (NGC), Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO), Wapda, GENCOs, PPMC, Nepra, SIFC, CPPA-G, thermal power plants, equipment manufacturers, technology providers, academia, think tanks and industry participated in the workshop.
Five areas were identified for further work, including coordination between renewable generation and transmission development, energy storage and demand-side measures, grid flexibility, essential grid-support services and clearer institutional responsibilities.One of the main discussions centred on converting technically suitable thermal generators into synchronous condensers. The equipment can provide grid-support services such as dynamic reactive power support, system inertia and short-circuit strength, helping maintain grid stability without generating electricity in the conventional way, the experts said.
They discussed the possibility of using existing thermal power infrastructure and grid connections as fossil-fuel-based generation declines.
They said each plant would need to be assessed separately, taking into account technical feasibility, cost, location, remaining equipment life and the time required for conversion.Staff Reporter