LECO, University of Moratuwa launch Sri Lanka’s first pilot micro-grid project
Lanka Electricity Company (LECO) together with the University of Moratuwa (UOM) launched a pilot project on micro-grid, with a grant assistance of US $ 1.8 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which could substantially enhance grid stability while increasing renewable energies in the generation mix and lowering electricity costs.
The pilot project contains a commercial micro-grid and R&D facility, which will be used as a research platform for the studies in the nature of renewable energy integration and smart grids. The UOM has already signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with LECO in establishing the ‘LECO Smartgrid Laboratory’, which is funded through ADB’S Clean Energy Financing Partnership Facility. The laboratory will be maintained by LECO for the first 20 years.
DIMO, together with the German specialist DHYBRID, has been selected for the supply of comprehensive renewable energy micro-grid, consisting of power generation and storage, a model which can be potentially scaled up for uninterrupted power distribution for customers across the country.
Addressing the official launch event of the project held in Colombo last week, Power Minister Dullas Alahapperuma highlighted that the project was a turning point in the country’s power sector.
With adoption of new technology, he was optimistic that the country would be able to reach renewable power to 70 percent in the country’s generation mix by 2030 while reaching sub targets of doubling non-hydro renewable energies and reducing dependency on diesel below 5 percent in power generation by 2023.
Meanwhile, LECO Acting General Manager Dr. Narendra De Silva pointed out that the project would be developed as a solution for the power interruptions consumers face, due to breakdowns as well as outages during maintenance activities.
“During such power failures, solar inverters also withdraw from the system by anti-islanding protection, driving even the customer who has sufficient power to power up his premises through his solar generation, go out of power. Micro-grids are identified as a solution for these problems, where it can increase the hosting capacity of the distribution network and can feed the power to the network when the grid is not available, since the excess power can be stored while storage issues like reverse power flow and subsequent voltage issues are also expected to be mitigated,” he elaborated.
Through this pilot project, LECO plans to explore the possibility of replicating the concept for other transformers and similar premises, to improve power supply reliability.
According to DHYBRID Country Manager Fabian Baretzky, the pilot project presents a novel opportunity for Sri Lanka to adopt one of the most robust and modern energy systems in the world, which would reduce cost of power while preserving the environment.
“Think of this pilot project as a seed for a whole new generation of energy system in the country. It will increase the share of renewable energies in the generation mix, increase grid stability and will increase the resilient of the grid. It will act as a protection against blackouts. No company will have to invest in diesel generators as a backup. These grid-connected micro-grids will also improve the trust in utility companies,” he went on to note.
DHYBRID has successfully operationalised over 70 projects globally with its softwares and hardwares, including in Sri Lanka’s neighbouring Maldives.
Speaking at the occasion, ADB South Asia Regional Department Director Energy Division Priyantha Wijayatunga noted that the project can be replicated across the country with loan funds, if the pilot project is successful.
“We are looking forward to seeing the outcome of this, so that eventually, we can replicate this not in Sri Lanka but also in the rest of the region and that would help to improve the reliability of electricity supply eventually,” he added.
Addressing the gathering, ADB Country Director for Sri Lanka Dr. Chen Chen assured ADB’S commitment in supporting Sri Lanka’s inclusive energy sector development, focussing on clean energy with new and innovative technologies and solutions.
DIMO Chairman and Managing Director Ranjith Pandithage noted that DIMO’S highly-qualified and experienced team of engineers has been assigned to execute this project while sharing the knowledge with their German partner DHYBRID.
DIMO plays a key role in the country’s power sector through transmission and distribution projects and power generation – mainly focusing on renewable energy. In addition, DIMO also launched a similar micro-gird project in Myanmar, recently.
According to a recent ADB report, Sri Lanka is among the Pacific island countries that rely on imported energy for more than half of their energy demand requirements.
Sri Lanka achieved universal electricity access in December 2016, through a combination of grid expansion and rural electrification initiatives, using small-scale hydropower projects.