KARACHI, Jan 31: The Solar Energy Research Centre (SERC) of the PCSIR has installed three solar water desalination plants at Gawadar, Balochistan and Mandro and Dhaklo in Tharparkar Sindh.

According to a report of the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), this is the beginning of a new era in exploiting the potential of solar energy in the country.

The Gawadar solar water desalination plant has the capacity for 6,000 gallons per day, the two solar plants located in Tharparkar have the capacity for 250 gallons per day. The Gawadar plant is providing water to the Pakistan Navy and the Tharparkar plants are supplying water to two schools. The cost of the plants was not disclosed

SERC, located in Hyderabad has designed and developed two solar water heaters (geysers) with the capacity for 50 gallons per day for commercial purposes.

The centre has also designed and developed various types of solar dryers for vegetables, fruits, meat and fish. It has also finalized negotiations with the meteorological department for installation of a wind data recorder.—APP