Establishment of hydroelectric microgrids, need of the time to resolve energy shortage problems

Abstract

Energy crisis is one of the main causes of poverty in third world countries that needs to be addressed to elevate economy and save environment. Pakistan, having ample amount of water resources, is suffering from acute energy crisis these days. Currently it is facing a power shortage of 4000–9000 MW depending on the varying power demand due to severity of weather conditions. The shortage is managed by load shedding of up to 18 hours in some parts of the country. This power outage makes necessary services like health, education and industry difficult to manage. COMSATS being one of the prestigious higher education institutions of Pakistan is expanding day by day and a new campus is under construction at Dhamtaur (about five kilometers from the old Mirpur campus). This article discusses the hydropower potential of Dor River that runs near these campuses and its development as microgrid hydropower project for off grid use at both COMSATS campuses. The study concludes that both these campuses will collectively utilize almost two thirds of the produced energy. The payback period of the project is less than fifteen years. The results of this study encourage the policy makers to think on developing such projects, specifically for education and health purposes where load shedding may cause irreversible damages.