TRANSITION TOWARDS ALTERNATIVE ENERGY RESOURCES: EMERGENCE OF SOLAR POWER AS SUSTAINABLE GOVERNANCE FOR PAKISTAN

Abstract

The transition to renewable energy resources in the effort to address Pakistan's sustained energy crisis as well as environmental issues. The objectives of this current study are twofold, the first being to establish the factors that are making people transition to solar energy and the second to identify the barriers when shifting to solar power. To get a better understanding of it a qualitative secondary research approach and case study design was adopted.

From the study the following are the drivers to why solar is adopted in Pakistan today: First there is the decline in the cost of the system, recent advancement in technology and the pursuing of energy security. As Solar energy is a great prospect for reducing the reliance on imported fuels, it can also lessen energy deficits particularly in areas that undergo inadequate service. However, the transition to use solar energy has its own challenges. These are policy inconsistencies issues, high initialization costs, inadequate funding, weak infrastructure, and low public awareness. This study suggests that there is the need to address these problems through action. This paper suggests modifications in policies, partnerships between the public and private domain, new funding mechanisms as well as awareness creation campaigns to advance the use of solar energy that could support the unlimited utilization of actual potential of solar energy, eventually contribute towards creating conditions of sustainable development and thereby secure future