Lucky Cement: Pakistan's First n-Type Solar Plant

• Lucky Cement has taken a giant leap in environmental sustainability, building Pakistan's first n-type photovoltaic (PV) power plant. By reducing energy costs and fossil energy usage, Lucky Cement is blazing a trail for other industries to follow and help Pakistan take a step towards renewable energy independence.

Pakistan's largest cement manufacturer, Lucky Cement, has taken steps to reduce its environmental impact by building a 26 MW solar plant. The project was executed by JA Solar and Orient Energy Systems in September 2023 and is Pakistan's first n-type photovoltaic (PV) power plant project. The plant uses a self-generation and self-consumption model to meet the plant's energy needs. This reduces energy costs for Lucky Cement while also decreasing fossil energy use and carbon emissions. Additionally, JA Solar's n-type modules have better degradation, temperature coefficient, bifacial power generation gains, and low irradiance performance, allowing them to generate more power even in the desert environment of the site. This move by Lucky Cement is setting an example for other cement companies and industries in Pakistan as they look for reliable power sources with lower costs. However, Pakistan is still mainly dependent on imports for its energy needs due to a balance of payments crisis and depreciation of the currency. It has been an underperformer in terms of renewable energy uptake, relying mainly on hydro power even with changing rainfall patterns.

What Advantages Has Lucky Cement Gained From Installing a Solar Plant?

Advantages Gained From Installing a Solar Plant:

• Reduced environmental impact due to reduced energy costs and fossil fuel use
• Improved degradation, temperature coefficient, bifacial power generation, and low irradiance performance, allowing them to generate more power even in difficult environments
• Setting an example for other cement companies and industries in Pakistan to follow
• Reliable and low cost energy sources compared to conventional sources
• Benefits the national balance of payments and currency