Solar and wind energy could end blackouts but funds not available
The country’s annual electricity demand could be met by oilfired power plants and a similar amount comes from coal and hydro power. However, because of the lack of sufficient rain hydro power generation has been impacted and this has resulted in the ongoing power crisis.
However, independent social analysts say a lack of facilities such as mega power plants mixed with small-scale renewable energy projects were the main reasons for the crisis.
Solar, Wind and Hydro Power Generation Projects Development Ministry Secretary Hemantha Samarakoon said Sri Lanka had reached the maximum level in producing hydro power projects. A few more mini projects were yet to come up in addition to two mega projects at Seethawaka which were yet to be completed.
"We are not receiving sufficient rain to fill the reservoirs. This is the biggest problem, but by the end of next month the situation might change. When it comes to solar power generation in Siyambalanduwa one power plant has already begun to operate. Feasibility studies are being conducted at Athumale also," he said.
He said the Mannar and Pooneryn solar power plants could be completed this year. The land structuring part was being done. Once commissioned, the Mannar wind farm could supply more than 380 million units of clean electricity to the national grid annually. Electricity from this project could be generated at less than 5 US cents for a kilowatte. One major benefit of this project was its ability to displace large amounts of fossil fuel based electricity generation and thereby avoid carbon emissions to the environment amounting to 285,000 metric-tonnes, annually.
The Ministry Secretary said there was a Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) transmission capacity for solar power generation if it was extended that should have more technology which we do not have. As a result renewable energy plants were unlikely to resolve the power crisis now as our existing grid system was not ready for that, and Sri Lanka needed major investments to revive that.
For that eventually, we needed more money which we do not have now. If the private companies provide funds we could solve the crisis.
CEB Engineers Association Chairman Anil Ranjith said to proceed with the hydro power generation currently Sri Lanka's reservoirs were only thirty percent filled. Therefore we should focus on thermal energy.
He said the Kithulgala project was the latest addition to hydro power generation. It would add 35 megawattes to the national grid. Once the project was completed it would be expected to generate 137 gigawatt hours of electrical energy annually.
According to him, the required funding to begin construction work has halted the remaining mini projects.
At hydro power plants water flows through a pipe, or penstock, then pushes against and turns blades in a turbine to spin a generator to produce electricity. The facility stores energy by pumping water from the lower reservoir to an upper reservoir. Apart from Uma oya the required basics can not be accomplished in other locations, so there are no other mega projects to be implemented.
The Mannar and Pooneryn solar power projects were to be completed but their CEB transmission line had not been set up. The other issue was funds for a crucial piece of equipment in the solar energy system that converted direct current (DC) electricity generated by solar panels into alternating current (AC) used by the electrical grid.
He said what happened in the rooftop solar panel systems was that in the roof solar panels, domestic usage was a maximum of 230 units. They could not generate more than that. Otherwise the transformers could get overloaded and damaged. So these types of technical issues had hindered Sri Lanka from proceeding with solar power generation. To overcome these issues more technical support was needed which was costly and not a feasible solution in this crisis.
However, if a 100,000-solar-roof programme could be implemented it could have considerable economic benefits, promoting solar energy as a viable alternative.
CEB media spokesperson Andrew Navamani said power usage had increased by 150 megawattes this week when compared to the last week and the CEB was compelled to take demand management measures due to inadequate power generation as result of the fuel shortage and the lack of generators.
Renewable energy was a cost effective source with Sri Lanka having ample sunlight and wind. He said in areas where reservoirs were located a considerable drop in rainfall had led to an electricity crisis.
Reservoirs now provided only about 33.6 percent of our power supply. It could go down further with water levels dropping. He said that with the current dry weather conditions, the water in the Castlereigh reservoir has dropped to 25.4 percent, Randenigala reservoir to nearly 77.9 percent, Victoria reservoir had dropped to 45.8 percent, Kotmale reservoir to 49.1 percent and Samanalawewa reseroir to 34.6 percent of their full capacity.