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Hydrogen is a relatively new source of sustainable energy resources; presently, its usage ranges from direct energy generation in mixed-cycle thermal power plants to its usage in the internal combustion engine. If the generation of hydrogen is coupled with renewable energy resources, the use of hydrocarbons can be substantially reduced in both energy generation and transportation. In this paper, we conducted a national-level assessment to identify the hydrogen generation capacity of Pakistan. The methodology used in this study is a combination of spatial multi-criteria analysis and density-based clustering in a geographical information systems environment. Based on the analysis, the national clusters capable of producing green hydrogen were identified. The results shows that the hydrogen generation capacity for Pakistan is approximately 7 million tons per year using solar photovoltaic energy. The Surab-Gwadar alignment, N-25 national highway, and Quetta-to-D-I-Khan alignment offer potential hydrogen generation sites with water resources. Most of the identified sites for the production of hydrogen in the country were found to be near the national electricity transmission networks. The Best-Worst Method was further employed to provide policymakers with a road map for prioritizing the development of these capacities based on their proximity to the national networks, their terrain suitability, and their generation capacities. • This paper assesses the suitable sites for solar-based green hydrogen production in Pakistan. • The methodology used involves a combination of spatial multicriteria analysis, clustering, and the best-worst method. • Pakistan's theoretical annual hydrogen generation capacity is around 7 million tons annually. • The Surab-Gwadar alignment presents promising hydrogen generation opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The banking sector serves as a nudge between increased financial investments and reduced environmental impacts in the modern era of sustainability thus, integrating the social, environmental, and economic dimensions. This paper aims to explore the practices and ongoing activities on account of sustainable banking which is being practised in the Pakistani Banking Sector. A mixed methods approach using a survey with a sample size of (n = 250) and in-depth interviews of (n = 25) provides significant evidence for the research. SmartPLS4.0 was used for hypotheses testing and to ascertain the path coefficient association within the constructs. This research fills the gap in existing literature by testing and implying the mediating role of Stakeholders' Influence on the relationship between Green Banking Practices and the Bank's Performance. The results of the quantitative analysis show a positive association between variables, highlighting the role of stakeholders and their need to partake efficiently, in the countrywide execution of green banking. The qualitative analysis portrays that; green banking is currently the partial focus of the banking sector in the developing economy of Pakistan whereas, approaches like financing green projects, investments in renewable energy, in-house greening of the banking sector, and provision of easy lending facilities to encourage and support environmental initiatives are some commonly practised accomplishments of the banking sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explains the energy mix of China's overseas electricity investments across Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) recipient countries. We focus on Indonesia and Pakistan. Our research is based on both newly gathered project-level data and in-depth interviews with stakeholders of Chinese-backed power plants in Indonesia and Pakistan. We examine (1) why Chinese actors are involved in renewable power generation in Pakistan and not in Indonesia, and (2) why Chinese-backed coal-fired projects in Pakistan are cleaner than in Indonesia. We argue that variations along the three dimensions – scope, governance regime, and issue linkage – lead to different energy mixes in Chinese-invested power plants across BRI countries. This framework specifies how supply and demand factors interact across multiple levels regarding the formulation and implementation of China's overseas electricity projects. Our findings shed new light on the environmental implications of BRI projects and the dynamics of renewable energy development in emerging markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural electrification is a crucial component of meeting sustainable development goals. In Pakistan, load shedding and power outages are frequent. According to the current data, Pakistan is experiencing a shortfall of power between 6000 and 6500 MW. Microgrid technology has the potential to provide a solution to this problem in an efficient and low‐cost manner. This paper proposes the development of a hybrid microgrid system (HMGS) for rural communities. For that purpose, a technological analysis of the HMGS system for rural electrification is performed. Solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind resource‐based renewable energy systems are considered in this work for the electrification of rural areas of Pakistan. A hybrid PV/wind system is designed using MATLAB software. Simulation results show that a 230‐V sinusoidal output voltage has been produced by the proposed model. The advantage of this model is that it minimizes the impact of transients and provides a sinusoidal output waveform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generation of combustible gas from anaerobic biomass captivation is a well-known technology. Using gas for direct combustion in household stoves in general producing power from biogas is still quite unusual in most emergent countries. The focus of this paper is to implement the importance of biogas as a substitute energy source. Bio-resources are availably wide-reaching in the appearance of lasting agricultural biomass and wastes which can be deformed into biogas. Cow manure has been used for the production of biogas and the generation of electricity. The basic problem faced during the production of electricity is the production of biogas through anaerobic respiration which is the mixture of methane and other undesirable gases. The scrubber employed to remove the undesirable gases is very expensive and needs regular maintenance. A tap system at the top of the digester is used to remove moisture and a bucket filled with iron sponges is used to remove hydrogen sulfide. In the end, we are left with methane and some inert gases which have no adverse effect on combustion. This purified gas is used to produce electricity which is used to run the load. The benefit of this research is that this method is easily and commonly used by villagers without any hurdles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In developing countries, many areas are deprived of electrical energy. Access to cleaner, more affordable energy is critical for improving the poor's living conditions in developing countries. With the advent of smart grid technology, the integration and coordination of small grids, known as nanogrids, has become very easy. The purpose of this research is to propose a nanogrid model that will serve the purpose of providing the facility of electrical power to the poor rural community in Pakistan using hybrid renewable energy sources. This paper targets the electrification of a poor rural community of Akora Khatak, a small district located in Pakistan. The mathematical modeling of solar and wind energy, neural network-based forecasting of solar irradiance and wind velocity, and the social analysis to calculate the payback period for the community have been discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to ascertain the impact of Chinese FDI on economic growth in Pakistan. This study documents the exploration of the determinants of economic growth in Pakistan by emphasizing the significant role played by Chinese FDI and investments in renewable energy in particular. This paper employs time series data analysis to examine the relationship between GDP and Chinese FDI, inflation, trade openness, exchange rates, interest rates, remittances, and renewable energy consumption from 1990 to 2019. The study involved performing the ARDL bounds test, and it was determined that the dependent and independent variables are linked in the long term. Furthermore, the error correction model is negative and noteworthy, which checks the long-run relationship between variables. According to the findings of the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model, Chinese FDI has a substantial favorable effect on Pakistan's economic growth. Furthermore, renewable energy usage has a long-term favorable and significant association with Pakistan's economic growth. This study established that FDI, and particularly renewable energy, will stimulate the economic growth of Pakistan. Our research has substantial policy implications, especially when it comes to the relationship between FDI and renewable energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inclusion of renewable energy sources in a distribution system to form a dispersed or decentralized generation network has gained tremendous progress in recent years. The architecture of the distribution system has the potential to serve as a microgrid during an islanding operation connected directly to the load center while excited fully by renewable technologies. This paper deals with planning and designing of a medium voltage power distribution system in a rural area of Pakistan affluent with abundant reserves of renewable sources of electricity. Two types of distribution system architectures, namely radial and ring systems, are simulated using a power flow algorithm with three types of renewable generation technologies: solar, wind, and biogas. The theoretical study involves realistic parameters such as total houses, estimated load, distance of the load from proposed generation site, solar irradiance, wind speed, and biogas reserves. As a result, transformer losses, line losses, power factor, and voltage profile across the load are evaluated for both system types and compared. It is concluded that the ring system maintains better voltage profile, higher power factor, and less transformer and line losses as compared to the radial system. All the relevant construction details together with the electrical and operational parameters of the power system need to be processed accurately in a computer program. Such a program has been modeled as part of this research with embedded methods and conditions outlined in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart grid plays a vital role in energy management systems. It helps to mitigate the demand side management of electricity by managing the microgrid. In the modern era, the concept of hybrid microgrids emerged which helps the smart grid management of electricity. Additionally, the Internet of Things (IoT) technology is used to integrate the hybrid microgrid. Thus, various policies and topologies are employed to perform the task meticulously. Pakistan being an energy deficient country has recently introduced some new policies such as Energy Wheeling Policy (EWP), Energy Import Policy (EIP), and Net Metering/Distributed Generation Policy (NMP) to manage the electricity demand effectively. In addition, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (EECA) has also been introduced. In this paper, we present the overview and impact of these policies in the context of the local energy market and modern information and communication mechanisms proposed for smart grids. These new policies primarily focus on energy demand–supply for various types of consumers such as the demand for bulk energy for industrial ventures and the distributed production by consumers. The EWP deals with obtaining power from remote areas within the country to ease the energy situation in populated load centers and the EIP highlights energy import guidelines from foreign countries. The NMP deals with the integration of renewable energy resources and EECA is more focused on the measures and standardization for energy efficiency and conservation. The benefits and challenges related to EWP, NMP, and EIP have also been discussed concerning the present energy crisis in Pakistan. The generalized lessons learned and comparison of a few aspects of these policies with some other countries are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global water scarcity crisis has led to increased demand for reverse osmosis (RO) desalination technology. In response to the rising global temperatures, there is a growing focus on renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy to power small-scale RO plants. This paper presents a comprehensive techno-economic analysis of stand-alone photovoltaic reverse osmosis (PV-RO) systems in Pakistan. It focuses on the design and optimization of PV-RO systems for Karachi and Lahore, evaluating the systems with and without energy recovery devices. A parametric study was conducted to optimize system performance, considering various configurations. The analysis includes a comparison of costs when operating with PV, diesel, and grid power. It was found that for Karachi, a four-stage PV-RO system without an energy recovery device provides water at $1.359 per cubic meter, while in Lahore, a three-stage system with an energy recovery device achieves $1.336 per cubic meter. These systems offer significant annual savings compared to diesel-powered systems, with Karachi and Lahore saving up to $10,138 and $17,664 respectively over ten years. The findings of this study show that PV-RO systems, especially those with multiple stages and energy recovery devices, offer a cost-effective and sustainable solution for water desalination in these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric power shortfalls driven by inadequate generation, electrification, and lack of clarity on the planning side have worsened Pakistan's power crises that deformed economic growth. This study focuses on the estimation of the electricity supply and demand in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) perspective and on the main reasons that motivate a transition to green resources. This paper estimated the demand-supply gap (1990–2015) and forecasted it (2016–2035), including CPEC projects using the System Dynamics model. The results show that the power demand will be met by 2021, fact highlighted also by a battery of robustness tests. We find that the CPEC efforts will increase energy growth from 4.5% (1990–2015) to 14.6% (2016–2035). The capacity growth will increase from 4.9% to 12.3% during 2016–2035. Moreover, the current renewable energy production and investment (Wind & Solar Power) will not help achieve policy targets. A total investment of $4806.69 million is required to meet policy targets, while a value of $57,683 million is needed for a complete conversion to green energy. The study highlights the challenges on the green energy path and discusses policies needed to overcome these problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 940 million people (13% of the world population) do not have any access to electricity. Most of these people live in rural and remote areas, where the lack of electricity access is significantly damaging the quality of life, economic development and the environment. Distributed energy systems (DESs) (based on clean energy technologies) for energy access offer a potentially important strategy for pursuing environment-friendly sustainable development and poverty alleviation; especially in rural and remote communities. DESs are also helpful in reducing deforestation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as the fossil fuel-based energy production is among the largest contributors to GHG emissions. This paper presents the importance of energy access through DESs for resilient and sustainable development using two projects case studies from Pakistan. The first project case study is based on the Afghan refugee villages, where, currently, there is no electricity access. A baseline survey was conducted to assess the socio- economic conditions and energy demand of the refugees. This assessment is then used to devise clean energy solutions as per the local context. This project aims to improve the quality of life of the refugees by providing energy access. In the second case study, electricity access was provided to the local communities a few years ago. Analyses of primary data collected in this case study show that DES integrated with socio-economic and cultural systems can bring a significantly positive impact on the local communities, advancing all the sustainability development goals. This work concludes that DES can be significantly generative, if effectively integrated into socio-economic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, Governments of South Asia have faced the challenge of achieving the goal of sustainable development. On the one hand, they must satisfy the ever-growing demand for energy and, on the other hand, the interminable deterioration of the environment is causing great concern among political economists. The widening gap between the demand and supply of energy, over-reliance on the use of fossil fuels, and increasing import bills due to rising global prices are the challenges that South Asia is facing. These can be overcome by using its great potential in renewables. This paper uses SWOT methodology to identify that the poor financial situation of the distribution companies, due to power losses and non-cost-reflective tariffs, and the lack of credit opportunities, due to high interest rates and inaccessibility of loans for the long-term, are the major impediments to the growth of the renewable energy sector of the region. Moreover, there is a conflict of interest between the manufacturers of renewable energy equipment and the developers of renewable energy projects in terms of Government policy concerning the imposition of import duties. India is moving towards protection of the former, while the latter see opportunities in the renewable energy sector of Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A green or sustainable library seeks to maximize the use of natural and renewable resources. The adopt ion of green pract ices in l ibraries of developing count ries like Pakistan is much needed where water and energy resources are scarce and unsustainable. This move f rom convent ional to green libraries also poses certain challenges. This study aims to explore the chal lenges encountered in the adopt ion of green library pract ices in the university librar ies of Pakistan. The scholarly literature is reviewed to encompass the dimensions and chal lenges of a green library in the global context. The feedback from the selected, senior university librarians of Pakistan regarding chal lenges and their solutions in adopt ing green library practices is col lected through interviews. These challenges include a lack of awareness about green libraries and practices, policy for green libraries, technologies for a paper less envi ronment, awareness regarding the use of natural construct ion materials and biodegradable products, awareness regarding the use of natural and renewable energy sources, and seriousness of librar ians and management. The exper ts also suggest requi red skills and resources to overcome these chal lenges comprising knowledge about green libraries and pract ices, paperless envi ronment, space management, solar panels, glass windows, skills regarding the use of renewable energy sources, and the ability to find out the environmental impact of a resource. This study may also be useful for libraries in other developing count ries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, the emerging trend of hybrid renewable energy sources integration in modern power systems is increasing due to privileged prices and clean electricity supply. However, the optimal planning of rural hybrid systems is a challenging and complex task, especially when different alternatives and sustainability aspects are considered. This paper develops an integrated decision-making approach for the optimal planning of a 100% renewable energy supply system comprising solar, wind, hydro, and biomass sources in a rural area located in Pakistan. An hourly-based design optimization analysis of twelve on/off-grid electrification alternatives is performed. The optimization model simultaneously addresses five sustainability criteria related to economy, reliability, ecology, society, and topography aspects. Furthermore, a novel hybrid decision-making model has developed to identify the unique best configuration with on-grid and off-grid options. The proposed model combines fuzzy analytic hierarchy process, multi-objective optimization based on ratio analysis technique for order of preference by similarity to an ideal solution, and evaluation based on distance from average solution methods. The results reveal that the solar-hydro-biomass battery with a life cycle cost of 10.9 M$ is the top-ranking off-grid system. When the hybrid system is connected to the grid, the solar-hydro-battery has found the most appropriate design with a life cycle cost of 12.96 M$. Both scenarios have a negligible capacity shortage of 0.09%. Ecologically, the optimal off-grid system produces only 408.37 kg/yr of CO 2 due to the significant energy share of solar and hydro sources (99.3%). The optimal on-grid system produced the minimum CO 2 with 29,177.89 kg/yr compared to other alternatives. Also, employing the optimal on/off-grid designs require land area and jobs of 96.6 m2, 14 jobs, and 118 m2, 15 jobs, respectively. Overall, the developed approach with the presented case study offers a valuable benchmark and guidelines for investors and stakeholders to create realistic investment plans for the energy industry looking to push efficient inducements to encourage the high dissemination of renewables. [Display omitted] • 100% renewable energy system is established for on/off grid rural electrification. • Twelve distinctive solar/wind/hydro/biomass-based hybrid energy alternatives are optimized. • An integrated fuzzy-AHP/TOPSIS/EDAS/MOORA decision-making model is proposed. • Cost, reliability, emission, social, and topographical criteria are simultaneously considered. • Results prove the long-term sustainability of 100% renewable in rural Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focus on the coordination and optimization of renewable energy power generation capacity and other multiple energy sources in the power grid and the operational efficiency of renewable energy power generation equipment. The detail description of multi-energy system model composed of high proportion of wind power generation, photovoltaic power generation, solid regenerative electric boiler, electricity-generated natural gas, gas energy storage, and thermal energy storage system (ESS), renewable energy based on different scheduling time scales. First, the proposed power generation capacity planning and profit multi-objective optimization model. Second, investigate the energy supply and consumption characteristics of multi-energy supply, transmission, and load equipment in the power grid, and establish a multienergy grid power balance model based on the uncertainty of high-ratio renewable energy generation. Finally, testing the proposed model using the actual operation data of a multienergy grid in a region of northeast Pakistan. The simulation results show that the renewable energy capacity and benefit optimization model can achieve a smaller renewable energy capacity allocation on the premise of ensuring higher investment benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan is facing severe electricity crisis due to lack of investment in power sector, depleting gas resources and dependency on imported oil. Utilization of indigenous and renewable energy resources is the best way to compensate energy need and reduce fossil consumption. Being an agrarian country, huge amount of agricultural residue is generated each year, which can be used as a cheap input to generate electricity. Aim of this research is to assess the total potential of electricity that can be generated from Agricultural Residue (AR) in Pakistan. The paper focuses on district-wise resource assessment for electricity generation in the province of Punjab. Estimated 60 Mega Tonne (Mt) of AR is generated in Punjab every year from 5 major crops (wheat, sugarcane, rice, maize, and cotton). AR is used for various purposes but still large amount of residue is left unused and burnt openly in the fields. As a methodology, certain factors are used to calculate the Net Available Residue (NAR). This research shows that a lot of potential is available in Pakistan to generate electricity form biomass, in total around 1700 MW electricity can be generated from agricultural residues of 4 main crops (Maize, Cotton, Wheat and Rice). It is also found that maize stalk producing districts of central Punjab are the best location for installing BPP and also it is cheapest to produce electricity from maize stalk with LCOE of 6.8 cents/kWh. • The assessment of the power generation from Agricultural Residue (AR) in Punjab, Pakistan is performed. • District-wise resource assessment for electricity generation is done in the province of Punjab. • Estimated 60 Mega Tonne of AR is generated in Punjab every year from 5 major crops. • In total around 1700 MW electricity can be generated from agricultural residues of 4 main crops. • Maize stalk producing districts of central Punjab are the best location for installing BPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power generation planning (PGP) is a vigorous stage in power system planning subsequently forecasting the load demand. The nature of the PGP problem is highly constrained, dynamic, discrete, nonlinear, stochastic, and mixed-integer. The amalgamation of the renewable energy sources in strategic PGP generates the complexity in terms of feeble reliability because of variability. The meta-heuristic algorithms are referred to as efficient solution techniques for the optimization of challenging and minimum-cost PGP. In this paper, a novel PGP optimizer has been proposed to plan the power generation plants reflecting the minimum cost and attaining an explicit reliability evaluation for specific planning prospect. The formulated and proposed optimizer is called teaching–learning-based optimization employing correction matrix method-with-indicators (TLBO-CMMI). In TLBO-CMMI, a new radix-5-based mapping procedure has been developed for the representation of population search agents. An innovative constraint handling procedure known as correction matrix method-with-indicators and incremental cost-based strategy to compute variable operation and maintenance cost, have been embedded from our previous research work. The optimizer has been employed to perform the PGP for different test scenarios in the literature including reliability and emission constraints. The optimizer gives promising results considering minimum cost and computational time when compared with results by current methods in the literature. The suitability of the optimizer has also been assessed by applying to an actual scenario of the Pakistan power system to create a viable power generation plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the potential and outlook of solar energy in Pakistan as a source of renewable and sustainable energy. A detailed energy infrastructure and major reasons behind the power crisis in Pakistan are presented followed by a detailed assessment of solar energy potential. The results obtained from the solar atlas for solar irradiation and PV electricity output show a high potential of solar power throughout the country. An average value of 4.1 kWh/kWp per day is obtained from an installed capacity of 1 KWp. Furthermore, the total estimated potential of solar power in Pakistan is around 2900 GW and its effective use will help in the growth of the country's economy by reducing the import of fossil fuels. It is foreseen that the present research will help nations develop and utilize solar power in their respective countries efficiently and effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generation expansion planning (GEP) is a vital step in power system planning after the load forecast. The integration of renewable energy sources makes the GEP problem less reliable due to intermittent nature. The concept of exploiting the energy sources of multiple regions and cross-border power exchange is gaining immense attention in energy policy strategic planning. The aspect of regional connectivity has been incorporated in the least cost GEP by proposing two new models for large-scale power systems as intra-regional and inter-regional GEP. Intra-regional GEP simulates the composite planning for multiple zones of a region, whereas inter-regional GEP accommodates the energy sources of multiple regions and promotes the import–export of electrical power across the border. To pursue the least cost GEP, a novel meta-heuristic GEP optimization framework has been proposed in this paper. The proposed GEP optimization framework is biogeography-based optimization employing the correction matrix method-with-indicators (BBO-CMMI). In BBO-CMMI, a new parallel constraint handling approach called the correction matrix method-with-indicators (CMMI) has been developed. The proposed optimization framework is applied to reliability-constrained and emission-constrained GEP problems from the literature. The proposed framework shows promising results in terms of the least cost and runtime as compared with the results given by recent approaches presented in the literature. Similarly, the framework outperforms to optimize the large-scale power systems for intra-regional and inter-regional GEP. The applicability of the proposed approach has also been evaluated by applying to a real case study of Pakistan's power system to devise the feasible generation expansion plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrical infrastructure around the globe is expanding at a rapid rate for the sake of fulfilling power demands in the domestic, commercial and entertainment industries aiming to boost the living standards. In this regard, renewable energy sources (RES) are globally accepted potential candidates for maintaining inexhaustible, clean, and reliable electricity with a supplementary feature of economic prospect. The efficiency of power distribution at reduced cost to the consumers can be further enhanced by introducing a two-way billing system so-called net-metering which has the potential to overcome issues such as voltage regulation, power blackouts, overstressed grid and need for expensive storage systems thereby making it beneficial for the grid and the end user. This envisioning has encouraged the Government of Pakistan to install net-metering infrastructure at places which accommodate surplus renewable energy reserves. According to the Electric Power Act 1997, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) issued the net-metering rules and regulations in September 2015 by the endorsement of Federal Government which allowed the distribution companies in Pakistan to buy surplus electricity units generated by the consumers in order to partly reimburse the units imported from the utility grid. The aim behind this research work is to promote renewable energy utilization through net-metering mechanism in order to achieve maximum power. The export of units from consumer side to utility grid and vice versa can be made through bidirectional energy meter. In this paper, a solar net-metering analysis has been carried out on ETAP software to determine its benefits in a distribution network. Different scenarios have been investigated, and it is concluded that solar net-metering technique has multiple influential benefits, e.g., improvement in voltage regulation, reduction in transmission and distribution losses, increase in power availability, less billing to consumers, and reduction of loading on utility grid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy, either from non-renewable or renewable sources, is of paramount importance as the progress of a country is gauged on economic development. However, with the use of non-renewable energy resources, the environmental degradation is exacerbating with every passing day in developing countries including Pakistan. On the contrary, the developed countries are resorting to sustainable and renewable energy resources to achieve sustainable development goals. The primary consumer of the non-renewable energy sources is transportation sector in Pakistan, with the total consumption amounting to almost two-third of the total utilization. Keeping in view the existing energy expenditures and its share in environmental pollution by transportation sector, Lahore Metropolitan area has been selected for this research paper. This research analyzed the environmental data collected from multiple road junctions of Lahore City. In light of the existing data, the research exhibited improvements in overall environmental quality by comparing the existing and proposed energy solutions comprising of Hydrogen in transportation sector. The comparison carried out by utilizing International and National Environmental quality standards. Additionally, research also addresses the energy savings with the transition from non-renewable energy sources to renewable and innovative energy solutions. • Environmental degradation is exacerbating with use of non-renewable energy resources. • Primary consumer of non-renewable energy sources is transportation sector in Pakistan. • Comparison of the existing and proposed energy solutions. • Comprising of Hydrogen fuel cell in transportation sector. • Hydrogen fuel cell technologies for the transportation sector for safe and clean future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Load shedding has been a continuous challenge for the country on its way to advancement in industrialization and improvement in the living standard of its inhabitants. National energy mix is imported fossil fuel dominant affecting the buying options of the people. This paper proposes a grid-connected run-of-canal based micro-hydropower system and presents the designing of the proposed micro-hydropower system on the available head on a link canal between Balloki-barrage on the River Ravi and Sulaimanki-barrage on the River Sutlej. The electricity is to be used to supply the load of nearby villages and the surplus energy is to be fed into the nearby 11-kV grid while in peak hours, electricity is purchased from the grid. HOMER was used to verify the technical and economic feasibility of the proposed micro-hydropower project in meeting the load requirements. As the proposed system is only hydro resourced, HOMER performed optimization analysis and provided Net Present Cost (NPC) and the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of the proposed grid-connected micro-hydro system. Optimization analysis verified the validity of the proposed system based on the LCOE and the NPC. The system is expected to recover all the costs in the 5th year of the lifetime of the project. • A run of canal-based micro-hydropower project is proposed at the BS-link canal-I. • Designing of the proposed micro-hydropower project is presented. • Sensitivity analysis of the micro-hydro parameters is studied. • Optimization and economic analysis of the proposed micro-hydropower project is performed in HOMER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generation expansion planning (GEP) is a vital step in power system planning after load forecast. It is a highly constrained, dynamic, combinatorial, and discrete optimization problem. Mathematically, it is modeled as a mixed-integer nonlinear programming problem with high dimensionality and stochastic characteristics. The integration of renewable energy sources makes the GEP problem a complicated task and less reliable due to its intermittent nature. Meta-heuristic approaches are considered as potential solution methodologies to optimize the least cost GEP problem. This paper presents a novel GEP optimization framework to pursue the least cost GEP achieving a certain reliability level according to the forecasted demand for a planning horizon. The proposed GEP optimization framework is a correction matrix method with an indicator-based discrete water cycle algorithm (DWCA-CMMI). In DWCA-CMMI, a new parallel constraint handling approach, called a correction matrix method with indicators (CMMI), has been developed. DWCA-CMMI requires a smaller number of iterations and search agents to minimize the total GEP cost as compared to penalty factor-based metaheuristic approaches. Hence, CMMI enhances the convergence speed of the algorithm, avoids trapping in local optima, and improves both exploration and particularly exploitation. The proposed optimization framework is applied to reliability constrained and emission constrained GEP problems (test systems) from the literature. The proposed framework shows the promising results in terms of least cost and runtime as compared to results given by recent approaches presented in the literature. The applicability of the proposed approach has also been evaluated by applying to a real case study of Pakistan's power system to devise the feasible generation expansion plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan, as an underdeveloped and populous country requires an uninterrupted source of energy to keep its development on track and provide its citizens with a reasonable standard of living. Conversely, the country is unable to fulfil its domestic energy requirements and is undergoing an acute energy crisis. Electricity is a sector that has suffered the most from the energy shortages. The gap between demand and supply is met through blackouts and, at times, the country plunges into darkness for more than 10–12 h a day. This crisis, that the country is currently facing, did not occur overnight. The root cause of this debacle goes back in history and can be attributed to decades of mismanagement, poor planning and negligence. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the electricity sector in Pakistan and the issues it is beset with. In addition, an analysis of the energy policies that the country has announced over the years, as well as the impact that they have had on the electricity sector, is presented. It is concluded that Pakistan’s existing energy mix is not sustainable due to the excessive reliance on imported fossil fuels, rising electricity generation cost and increase in power generation related emissions. This paper develops a roadmap and proposes the energy sources that can fulfil the country’s rising energy requirements, whilst being sustainable at the same time. The roadmap identifies and highlights the primary tasks that the country must undertake to reach its vision of meeting its energy needs and integrating renewable energy sources in the power generation. The recommendations of this paper will provide guidelines to the decision-makers and policymakers, with an insight on how the energy technology and resource development should be carried out, which sources should be given priority and how the issues should be resolved, both in the short and long-term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan is an agricultural country and most of its population resides in rural areas. These communities have small power demands which can easily be met through proper utilization of renewable energy technologies such as solar photovoltaic (PV). The focus of this research work is to encourage people and government to develop zero energy communities which will greatly help to achieve sustainable energy infrastructure in the country. In this paper, feasibility of a grid-connected PV power system without battery backup is conducted for the climatic conditions of a rural community located in Toba Tek Singh, Pakistan. RETScreen clean energy simulation tool is used to optimize and carry out feasibility analysis of the proposed PV system. The analysis is carried out based on project finances, fuel saving potential, energy production, capacity factor, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The financial viability of the project is studied by comparing it with the grid electricity. The results indicate that the proposed PV power plant can provide energy in remote areas at relatively better rates as compared to grid electricity. Furthermore, this initiative will help to reduce the emissions of harmful greenhouse gases and to achieve a sustainable development in the country. A sensitivity analysis is also performed to demonstrate and elaborate the effects of government incentives on different decision variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Three models for the projection of long-term electricity generation for Pakistan are developed in this paper. Baseline (BL), Coal and Renewable Energy (RE) scenarios are used to analyze current and future electricity generation. From an environmental perspective, both the BL and RE scenarios are found to be superior to the Coal scenario, but a cost-benefit analysis indicates that the RE scenario is most expensive though it brings the benefit of effectively reducing dependence on imports of primary fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The population of Pakistan is increasing rapidly and hence the energy demand. Since ninety׳s, people of Pakistan has been experiencing load shedding because of the intense shortfall throughout the country. Pakistan, being an agricultural country, has a lot of potential of renewable energy sources especially biomass. The thing is to utilize the potential in a right direction. This paper presents the policy direction to get rid of the current energy crisis in the country through utilization of different types of biomass. The animal manure, municipal solid wastes and the crop residues are the main biomass sources in the country. This study also focuses the potential of main biomass sources present in the country and its technical routes for the production of bioenergy. The design parameters for standard bioreactor of gasifier and anaerobic digestion and their economic comparison are highlighted with respect to Pakistan environmental conditions. The development of anaerobic digestion technology is reviewed critically. This paper also discusses the different scenarios for the use of biomass sources in urban and rural environment. This verifies the use of biogas energy as the cheapest and the safest way to remove the crisis from the country. The stand-alone biogas plants should be constructed throughout the country where there is not electrification infrastructure exists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan is among the 10 countries that face the worst energy crisis of the world. As the country struggles with a number of financial, political and social issues, the transition from a conventional fuels based economy to a green economy is not an easy one. Pakistan has been blessed with immense potential of clean renewable sources of solar, wind and biomass but they have not been exploited yet. Renewable energy technology sector has not penetrated the energy mix and is currently an emerging market. This paper highlights the steps the country has taken in the past and the steps that are being taken at present to emerge out of the prevailing energy crisis when even the most urban areas suffer from power outages of 12 h per day. Until 2009, no single grid interconnected wind farm existed but now the situation has changed considerably and wind farms contributing to the national grid are a reality now. Three grid interconnected farms have been inaugurated and many others are in pipeline. The national policy regarding wind power systems has recently changed after unexpected setbacks to ongoing projects. This paper reviews the developments in the wind power sector of the country and lists some suggestions that can help improve the wind power penetration in the national energy mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of sufficient, affordable and environmentally benign energy is one of the major challenges worldwide. This study was performed to evaluate the feasibility of poultry waste for energy generation in Pakistan. The adoption of renewable energy sources is of paramount importance towards the energy security. This paper reports the potential of energy generation from poultry waste. To date, twenty five thousand poultry farms are operating to fulfill the protein demand of the population, which is increasing day by day and a huge amount of waste is produced from poultry farming in Pakistan. The waste generated from poultry farming is estimated and technology for the conversion of poultry waste into biogas is discussed and finally, the electricity generation based on poultry waste is estimated. A 280 MWh/day of electricity can be generated from the biogas produced from poultry waste and this adaptation would be a valuable addition of renewable energy in country existing energy system. Currently, there is a lack of infrastructure in Pakistan to adopt alternate and renewable energy sources. The researcher, businessman, venture capital and Government policies collectively could initiate the renewable energy disposition. Initially, a public-private partnership could be best practice to initiate this technology at the farm level. The utilization of poultry waste for energy generation is feasible and environmentally benign. The Government financial initiatives and technical support under the renewable energy policies is of paramount importance of adoption of this technology in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an effort pertaining to the simulation of the future production in Pakistan of different primary energy resources, i.e., coal, natural gas and crude oil, thereby constructing Hubbert peaks. In this context, the past 45 years' production data of primary energy resources of Pakistan have been analyzed and simulated using a generic STELLA (Systems Thinking, Experimental Learning Laboratory with Animation) model. The results show that the Hubbert peak of Pakistan's crude oil production has been somehow already achieved in 2013, with the highest production of 4.52 million toe, which is 1.51 times the production in 2000. Similarly, the natural gas peak production is expected in 2024 with a production of 32.70 million toe which shall be 1.96-fold the extraction of the resource in the year 2000. On the other hand, the coal production in the country has been historically very low and with a constant production rate that is gradually picking up, the peak production year for the coal is anticipated to be in the year 2080 with an estimated production of 134.06 million. Based on the results of this study, which provide a greater understanding of future energy patterns, it is recommended that an energy security policy be devised for the country to ensure sustained supplies in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advancement in technologies, the power requirement around the globe is tremendously increasing, putting extra loads on grids. The existing grids cannot bear that load and also do not provide the interface with Distributed Renewable Energy Sources (DRES). Building new lines and substations alone do not serve the purpose of overcoming energy shortfall. Thus a major transformation in electricity infrastructure is need of the hour to meet the ever growing demands of electricity. Converting current power management system to a smart autonomic system is pertinent to achieve an increasing amount of renewable energy generation. This paper presents a comprehensive review of advances in control of smart grids. Various robust and adaptive strategies are spotlighted with a detailed description of control of overloads and power smart grids. Also, power generation, storage and management techniques and development of operational schedule of sources and loads are elaborated. Recently reported systems and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) techniques in smart grid are highlighted. Renewable energy has potential to eliminate the current electricity crisis in Pakistan's energy sector. The solar, wind, hydro and biogas/biomass are the alternative energy resources found abundantly in the country, which have tremendous potential to offer environment-friendly energy solutions. This in-depth study reveals that a lot of opportunities and potential of smart grid technology exist in developing countries like Pakistan that need to be exploited so as to cope with energy crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case study of an innovative medium sized commercial-industrial bioenergy plant is portrayed. This plant effectively runs on various agricultural waste feedstocks like; animal-manure, vegetable, poultry and sugar wastes etc. The plant design is based on anaerobic fixed dome triple digester system connected via underground lagoon. Thus system is facilitating continuous flow of the input feedstock capacity up-to four tonnes per day. This modern scheme is built on innovation with the inclusion of mechanical stirrers, gas scrubbers, filtration, compression and storage systems. This research paper highlighted the potential techno-economic impacts of such bioenergy plant for the energy stressed small-medium industrial sector in developing countries like Pakistan. It has the capability of 142 MWh energy generations per year; rate of return 15.42% and employment growth prospects in SME sector up-to 55%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decades, forecasting electricity demand has been crucial in energy planning and power distribution management to establish sustainable strategies in undeveloped countries. This work proposes an integrated approach to evaluate Pakistan's energy sector and holistically investigate electricity-load strategies to prioritize them and prevent future electricity crises. This paper proposes a renewable energy technologies-based system design to eliminate energy shortfalls. Deep learning models can predict fluctuating variation in energy consumption, crucial for designing renewable energy systems. The strengths – weaknesses – opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis identified relevant factors and sub-factors, while the fuzzy-TOPSIS methodology prioritized alternative strategies. The results show that driving the nation to the functionality of an energy hub by sufficiently using its geostrategic location within the regional cooperation framework is the critical dominant factor. Besides, improving the country's investment environment was the least favored priority. Baluchistan was found to have the highest potential for wind energy, with an ability to generate 3270 MWh/year through wind power. [Display omitted] • An integrated management approach is proposed to address electricity crisis. • The proposed strategical energy forecast and planning is studied for Pakistan. • Prioritize the indicated strategies for sustainable energy planning and development. • Turning the country into renewable energy hub is suitable for Pakistan's economy. • Baluchistan has the potential to generate 3270 MW power from wind power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Diversification of fuel sources is imperative to address the energy security, climate change, and sustainable development issues; therefore, it is essential to address the energy crisis through the extensive utilization of abundant renewable energy resources, such as biomass energy, solar energy, wind energy and geothermal energy. Improving energy services for poor households in developing countries remains one of the most pressing challenges facing the development community. Earlier studies suggest in South Asia the households are likely to follow the energy ladder comprising fuels like dung, crop residue, firewood, kerosene, gobar gas, LPG, and electricity for cooking purposes. Evidence suggests that while it is possible to observe such transition in urban and semi-urban areas, the change is very slow in rural areas. In rural Pakistan, the access to commercial energy resources is limited, the majority of the households still heavily rely on traditional methods of using wood, animal waste and crop waste for domestic fuel needs. Efficiencies of use are very low and most of the potential is wasted because of non-scientific conventional technologies. Consequently there is an obligatory need to develop modern bio-energy technologies since renewable resources may serve to supplement the long-term energy needs of Pakistan to a significant level. Though the bio-resource base of Pakistan is substantial, its contribution to useful energy is low. In this paper we called attention to issues and challenges in biomass utilization for energy in Pakistan in context of sustainable development. This paper has identified areas in Pakistan where there is considerable scope to modernize biomass energy production delivery systems to provide varied energy carriers such as electricity, industrial and domestic fuel and gases. Barriers are examined over the whole biomass energy spectrum and policy issue and institutional roles and responsibilities are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper deals with fundamental policy mistakes in Pakistan for the cause of sustainable development through renewable energy. It then identifies that the low level of awareness regarding the potentials of renewable energy is the key hurdle in achieving the said cause. The paper further traces the root cause of this low awareness in educational and S&T policies of Pakistan and finally provides some recommendations to avoid dilemmas related to such policies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents a review about conventional and renewable energy scenario of the county in quantitative terms of supply, generation and exploitation of available resources. In this energy scenario, the renewable energy share is in the range of a fraction of a percentage compared to total conventional energy supplies, so depicting it as a sector of least significance for government. Main emphasis in this paper has been given on presentation of data about renewable energy (RE) installations in the country, on-going activities, development projects, RE planning and achievements of public sector RE institutions and organizations. At the end some suggestions are given for effective planning and exploitation of RE resources and use of technologies. These suggestions are not only useful for Pakistan but also are equally important for the third world countries to enhance appreciably RE contribution in their total energy supplies of their country. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Pakistan energy situation is seriously troubling today due to lack of careful planning and implementation of its energy policies. To avoid the worse situation in the years ahead, the country will have to exploit its huge natural renewable resource. In this paper a review is being presented about renewable energy resource potential available in the country to be exploited for useful and consistent energy supplies. On average solar global insolation 5–7kWh/m2/day, wind speed 5–7.5m/s, Biogas 14 millionm3/day, microhydel more than 600MW (for small units) with persistency factor of more than 80% over a year exist in the country. Solar and wind maps are presented along with identification of hot spring sites as resource of geothermal energy. The research results presented in this paper are not only useful for government policy makers, executing agencies but also for private sector national and international agencies and stake holders who want to invest in Pakistan for renewable energy projects or business. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Pakistan is facing a severe electricity shortfall due to rapidly growing demand leading to 8–12 h d−1 power outages in rural areas in summer. Predominant use of imported fossil fuels for electricity generation is exerting a huge burden on the economy and causing immense damage to the environment in the form of GHG emissions. One of the best energy sources in terms of economy and emissions is biomass waste which is abundantly available in Pakistan in the forms of animal manure, poultry waste, sugarcane bagasse and kitchen waste. This paper critically analyses the potential of these largely underutilized biomass waste resources for biogas production as a Waste-to-Energy technology to overcome Pakistan's power crisis. Potential biogas production from each resource and its subsequent utilization in power generation is calculated for Bahawalpur (a division of Pakistan) as a case study and for the whole country Pakistan as well. Remarkable results come out to be 11.65 M m3 d−1 of biogas production potential which can generate 3059.7 GWh y−1 electricity for Bahawalpur division alone. The results for the whole Pakistan are 226.8 M m3 d−1 of biogas production potential and corresponding electricity generation of 59,536 GWh y−1 which accounts to be 49.4% of the total power generation for the year 2018. The most striking finding is that power generation from biogas will be enough to eliminate Pakistan's power shortfall. There is a possible market of 12.9 B USD y-1 corresponding to total bio-fertilizer generation of 340,800 kt y-1 from anaerobic digestion (AD). Findings of this paper present the government of Pakistan a critical consideration of widespread use of biogas technology in future and draft a proper Waste-to-Energy policy accordingly. The conclusion is that the biogas production and its subsequent use in electricity generation from biomass waste is the sustainable and eco-friendly renewable energy source which could resolve power crises and environmental and waste management issues in Pakistan. Biogas as a source of energy can be an important component for sustainability transition in Pakistan. This study could be a good reference for other developing countries too. • Manure, poultry waste, sugarcane bagasse, kitchen waste is largely underutilized. • Biogas production potential from waste is found to be 226.8 million m3 d−1 in Pakistan. • Biogas could supply 59,536 GWh y−1 & eliminate electricity shortfall in Pakistan. • Biogas could produce 49.4% of the total electricity produced per year in Pakistan. • There is a market of 12.9 billion USD y−1 related to bio-fertilizer in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A realistic and integrated PSH and CH model is proposed for optimum energy management. • PSH balances energy supply and demand for intermittent renewable energy. • PSH sites with added water streams feeding upper reservoir incur net positive generation. • PSH reduced pumping energy consumption and enhanced off-peak annual energy production. The energy sector contributes to around 60% of total greenhouse gas emissions. To limit climate change, the world is going through an energy transition to clean and affordable energy, therefore the share of variable renewable energy is increasing day by day. Power systems require significant flexibility to operate reliably. Pumped storage hydropower allows load balancing and stable integration of intermittent renewable energy in the electrical grid. All energy storage technologies, including pumped storage hydropower, are considered a net negative contributor to the grid since they draw more energy than they deliver. This paper uniquely investigates the true potential of pumped storage hydropower and its optimum operation along with existing conventional hydropower. It considers power, energy production, and utilization for both installations to determine an equilibrium condition for a net positive energy balance. The case study of the 300 MW Balakot conventional hydropower plant in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan indicates that the pumped storage hydropower sites, where additional water streams reach the upper storage reservoir, can reduce pumping energy consumption by up to 166 GWh/year. Accordingly, a pumped storage hydropower facility is proposed at Paras, Pakistan, modeled, and optimized in an integrated manner with the Balakot conventional hydropower plant for a net positive annual energy generation and profitability. The integrated power and energy modeling and capacity optimization of the hydropower complex highlight the importance of suitable site selection for pumped storage hydropower near existing conventional hydropower reservoirs. Value-added contribution of this configuration is that it can enhance annual energy generation from integrated conventional hydropower, reduce the upfront capital cost of the project by 10–15%, squeeze the project implementation schedule and result in a smaller carbon footprint to meet the ultimate objective of limiting climate change. Additionally, it unlocks huge untapped pumped storage hydropower potential besides existing conventional hydropower. Furthermore, the study guides the scientific and engineering organizations on optimum capacity utilization without impeding energy generation from conventional hydropower facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrical power distribution network in Pakistan is a complex system with many geographical regions suffering from frequent blackouts, limited and intermittent supply. Investment in mega-scale solar energy generation projects could help mitigate these supply related problems and counterbalance the country׳s growing dependence on imported oil. The purpose of this paper is to explore the economic and technical impact of connecting a mega-scale PV plant to the national grid. The area of Kharan in Balochistan province was chosen due to desired solar irradiation (7–7.5 kW h/m 2 /day). The simulations were carried out with existing and planned interconnected transmission system of Pakistan that has not been pre-designed to incorporate such intermittent generation. Load flow studies and short circuit analysis were carried out and it was established that power from this solar power project can be evacuated to the 220 KV system of National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDC), Pakistan without any transmission constraints. The three phase and single phase short circuit current studies further confirmed reliable grid interconnection in terms of power quality indices. Furthermore recommendations encompassing the economics and technical sides are presented for the successful commissioning of this installation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From last decade, Pakistan is facing the severe problems of energy deficiency. Every year Pakistan׳s government is spending more than 14.5 billion US dollars to import crude oil in order to fulfill the energy gap. Energy demand is increasing rapidly but exploration and use of renewable energy is not meeting the needs of requirements. The unavailability of power in Pakistan lasts for 14–20 h per day. In this paper, the potential of biogas is reviewed to meet the energy requirement of Pakistan. One cubic meter of biogas can generate an electrical energy of 2.5 KWh. The annual growth rate of livestock sector is 4% in Pakistan and its dung can produce 35.625 million KWh of electric energy per day. We can overcome the energy crisis by efficiently using biogas as an alternative energy source. The installation cost of biogas plant is not only economical but also beneficial in reducing respiratory and eye infections. PCRET has installed 4109 biogas plants across the country which saves average of Rs. 37.925 million per month in terms of kerosene oil, wood, liquefied petroleum gas and bio fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan is facing severe energy crises from the last decade resulting daily electric blackouts from 8 to 12 h. The limited fossil fuel reserves and its environmental consequences have led to boost research and development of alternate energy resources. A huge amount of fossil fuels and electricity is being consumed for the generation of low to medium temperature heat energy for domestic, residential, agro-industrial and processing units. This low to medium temperature heat energy required can easily be fulfilled using solar collectors. This paper focus on the development of a flat plate collector using local infrastructure to reduce its initial cost. The collector consists of a window glass, absorber plate coated with black matt paint, copper tubes, inlet and outlet pipes, rockwool insulation and a wooden frame. The results showed that the average efficiency of the solar collector was found to be 47.06%. The complete collector unit has been developed using indigenous resources to reduce its initial cost without compromising on its efficiency. Due to ideal climatic conditions of Pakistan for solar thermal energy, this system can be used for domestic, residential, and agro-industrial applications especially in rural and remote areas having no access to natural gas or electricity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A smart grid has recently gained significant attention as it is an important direction of power system advancement. The integration of renewable energy (RE) resources to the power system and the reduction of energy losses need an efficient and low-cost communication infrastructure. Cognitive radio sensor networks (CRSN) can be integrated in a smart grid to meet these challenges. CRSN is a new paradigm of research where the best of wireless sensor networks (WSN) and cognitive radios (CR) is combined. The sensor networks monitor a physical parameter and the measures value is transmitted using the cognitive radio. Thus, CRSN can be used for realizing the sensing and communication part in a smart grid network. In this paper, a smart grid network is proposed using CRSN for implementing it in the remote areas of Pakistan. The service coverage map is taken from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) website that regulates the spectrum band in Pakistan. This can be used in developing countries to realize a cost effective smart grid for integrating the renewable resources and for reducing energy losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh (IPB) are the largest South Asian countries in terms of land area, gross domestic product (GDP), and population. The growth in these countries is impacted by inadequate renewable energy policy and implementation over the years, resulting in slow progress towards human development and economic sustainability. These developing countries are blessed with huge potential for renewable energy resources; however, they still heavily rely on fossil fuels (93%). IPB is a major contributor to the total energy consumption of the world and its most energy-intensive building sector (India 47%, Pakistan 55% and Bangladesh 55%) displays inadequate energy performance. This paper comprehensively reviews the energy mix and consumption in IPB with special emphasis on current policies and its impact on economic and human development. The main performance indicators have been critically analyzed for the period 1970–2017. The strength of this paper is a broad overview on energy and development of energy integration in major South Asian countries. Furthermore, it presents a broad deepening on the main sector of energy consumption, i.e., the building sector. The paper also particularly analyzes the existing buildings energy efficiency codes and policies, with specific long-term recommendations to improve average energy consumption per person. The study also examines the technical and regulatory barriers and recommends specific measures to adapt renewable technologies, with special attention to policies affecting energy consumption. The analysis and results are general and can be applied to other developing countries of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the relationship between critical success factors (CSFs), organizational support, and renewable energy project success. The critical success factors with multiple dimensions (communication, team, technical, and environmental) were used in this paper. This study adopts the questionnaire survey approach, and collects data from the construction based renewable energy projects located in Punjab Province, Pakistan, which comprised 342 valid samples. Partial least-squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the theoretical framework. The results confirmed that three critical success factors i.e. team factors (TF), technical factors (Tech. F), and environmental factors (EF), have a positive and significant direct relationship with project success. However, communication factors (CF) have a direct but insignificant relationship with project success. Moreover, results also confirmed the positive mediating role of organizational support between critical success factors and project success. The empirical outcomes of this study show that these four critical success factors increase the success of renewable energy projects. The outcomes also show that organizational support as a mediating variable plays a dynamic role in enhancing the tangible success of renewable energy projects. This study contributes through empirical findings in the existing knowledge base for renewable energy projects. • The study applied partial least-squares structural equation modelling. • We analyzed how critical success factors influence the renewable energy projects. • The study identified four critical success factors for renewable energy projects. • Organizational support mediates in enhancing renewable energy projects. • Critical success factors significantly improve the project success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Energy is the basic need of modern life. Pakistan is an energy deficient country. Energy crisis is making bad impacts and destroying the economy. The current study investigates the relationship between the energy and demand supply in Pakistan. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the real reasons behind the current energy crisis. We want to find supplementary and alternate energy sources to cut down the load on the national energy mix. We select different areas and conduct our research and find the best possible renewable energy sources. In this paper we proposed the solution and best available indigenous resource in energy demanding areas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: There is an indispensable need to develop geothermal technologies to supplement the long-term energy needs of Pakistan to a significant level. Geothermal energy is one of the oldest, most versatile and also most common form of utilization of renewable energy. Pakistan is rich in geothermal energy, many of the researchers highlighted and emphasized about its importance, but due to less awareness, lack of confidence and management, no realistic work has been done so far in this domain. This paper investigates the progress of geothermal energy sources, technologies and its potential. Finally the prospects for the geothermal energy sources in Pakistan are described to encourage national and international investment in developing these resources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Natural gas is a dominant fuel in Pakistan. It offers the cheapest and a cleaner alternative source of energy. This paper examines the relationship of natural gas consumption and economic growth in Pakistan. We include capital, labor and exports in the model with multivariate framework. The ARDL bounds testing approach to cointegration and innovative accounting approach are employed to investigate the dynamic causality relationships among the variables. We find the existence of long-run relationship among the variables. Natural gas consumption, capital, labor and exports are positively affecting economic growth in Pakistan. Furthermore, we support the natural gas consumption-led-growth hypothesis and suggest that natural gas conservation policies may retard economic growth. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The ever-increasing transportation demands in major cities of the world caused numerous problems to transportation networks across the globe. The vital problems include fuel wastage, environmental deterioration and transport congestion. These problems can be witnessed throughout the world. Pakistan being a developing country is facing these problems and its allied implications worst. The international experience from developed countries highlighted that the transport infrastructures cannot be expanded indefinitely to accommodate the rising transport needs as expansion is always an expensive option. The alternative of expansion is Transportation Demand Management (TDM) by which available transportation infrastructure is optimized by focusing on the movement of people rather than the transportation modes. Today the TDM has been established as one of the premiere method of transport management across the globe. Most of the developing countries are following TDM to manage their transportation needs. The application of TDM is time consuming and community need to be educated about it through its application models. Once these models are accepted by the public, it will prove to be the best tool in managing the transportation system. TDM has not been adopted yet in Pakistan and there is no start up reference available in community about it. An attempt has been made through this paper to introduce the concept of TDM to community along with various organizations of Pakistan dealing in transportation management. Moreover, simplified guideline models of TDM applicability for transportation system of Pakistan have been proposed based on guidelines of TDM policy of Victoria transport system of USA. The discussed TDM strategies and their corresponding targets shows that TDM has strong potential to replace conventional transportation system management models adopted in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]