An Outlook of Wind Energy Technology: Prospects and Challenges for Pakistan

Pakistan, as a developing nation with a growing population and an expanding economy, must deal with growing electricity demand. At the moment, Pakistan is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, the majority of which are imported, to meet its electricity needs, thus exerting immense pressure on its already over-burdened economy. With the world's growing use of wind energy (WE), lower prices of renewable energy technology (RETs), and enhanced efficiency and reliability, WE can be a good alternate solution to Pakistan's reliance on fossil fuels, which will most certainly increase in price in the future. In this regard, significant WE resources may be found along the 1,046 km southern coastline and in a few locations in the north's hilly regions. This enormous potential can be utilized to generate electricity on a local level as well as at the size of large-scale wind farms. This study explores the potential for WE in Pakistan and outlines the necessary steps for its development and its associated challenges.