Pakistan’s parliament became the first in the world to completely run on solar power, thanks to a venture supported by China with $55 million funding. Known as the Majlis-e-Shoora, the seat of the government in the country’s capital, Islamabad, is now wholly powered by the sun.
After Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif opened the Solar-powered Building of the Parliament in the Capital of Islamabad, he enacted a simple ceremony there.
Rolled out by the Chinese government in 2014, the venture was conceived as an act of friendship.
“This is the first time since independence [1947] that parliament has become self-sufficient in electricity through solar power.” Mr. Sharif said
He said it is encouraging to note that the parliament’s solar plant will not only meet its own energy requirements but the additional electricity will also be contributed to the national grid.
According to the National Assembly speaker, Ayaz Sadiq, the parliament solar panels will generate 80 MW power, when 62 MW will be sufficient for parliament and the rest 18 MW will be given to the national grid.
“This is another example of Pak-China friendship,” Sharif said.
The switch to solar power is expected to save over $1 million a year in bills.
There are some other parliaments like the Israeli Knesset which are partly run on solar power.
Sources:
goodnews.pk
www.thehindu.com
www.pakistantoday.com.pk
