​ANALYZING THE CRISIS​
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As explained in the current sources of electricity supply, Sri Lanka primarily utilizes solar power for off-grid applications, with only a handful of small commercial grid-connected project operating or under construction.
According to studies performed by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL, US) and the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA), Sri Lanka experiences annual solar energy averages ranging from 4.5kWh per m2 to 6.0kWh per m2 per day, with the solar resource favourably spreading throughout the year in almost all locations in Sri Lanka.
Case Study 1: Conclusion
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Based on information and sources provided by Ms. Dilhani, an engineer at the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA), Sri Lanka has vast resources of renewable energy, as explained in this page.
According to studies performed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the United States, Sri Lanka has large potentials for solar power and wind power, with estimates putting figures well over multiple times that of the current national power installed capacity. Hydroelectric potential was also high, but is almost nearly exhausted due to the high exploitation of this resource. Biomass, a form of biofuel, is also used in power generation, but not on a utility-scale.
Other sources such as geothermal energy and ocean energy are also available in the country and accommodated by government energy policies, but its resources are not fully studied.
Further details on how Sri Lanka can make use of these potentials and move towards cheaper electricity, are explained in the relevant sections by each source below.
Solar power
An off-grid solar-powered lamp post in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. Off-grid use of solar power like these are common in Sri Lanka.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY-SA-3.0.​
The following solar resource map illustrate the amount of solar energy available in various parts of the country. Source: NREL/Public Domain.
Wind power
At present, only less than a dozen wind farms are in operation nationwide, all of which are below 10 megawatts. Wind assessment studies performed by the NREL and SLSEA (along with the solar energy assessment above) concluded that Sri Lanka has a total wind energy potential well over 20,000 megawatts, or 20 gigawatts, which is nearly 10 times that of Sri Lanka’s entire current cumulative installed capacity of all sources combined.
Unlike solar power, which is commercially suitable in almost all parts of the country, wind power resource is strong enough of commercial exploitation primarily in the northwest, north, central, and the southeast coastal regions of the country. This is further illustrated in the map below, along with the amount of wind potential at 50m. Source: NREL.
Nearly 5,000km2 of windy areas, which is 6% of Sri Lanka’s entire land area, experiences good-to-excellent wind resource. This resource is found over about 4,100km2 of land and 700km2 of lagoons areas. The total wind power capacity could be further increased to a staggering 50 gigawatts if areas with moderate wind resource potential are included.
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Hydroelectricity
Sri Lanka’s hydroelectric potential was realized long before much of the electrical infrastructure itself was developed, with hydro power developments such as the Inginiyagala facility dating back as early as the 1950s.
Excluding the Upper Kotmale Hydroelectric Dam of which construction is already nearing completion, the SLSEA and other governmental organizations have confirmed that the potential of medium to large scale hydroelectric developments in Sri Lanka is exhausted.
Until about late 2011, before additional coal and other fossil-fuel power stations were commissioned, hydroelectricity amounted to nearly half of the total energy supply of Sri Lanka, with supply being occasionally over 50% before 2005.​
The Victoria Hydroelectric Dam in Teldeniya, Sri Lanka. The dam is the largest source of hydroelectricity in the country, with an installed capacity of 210 megawatts. Source: Own photo, Azeez Abubakr.
Current hydroelectric potential could be further increased by supporting smaller scale developments, which the SLSEA estimate available potential of around 400 megawatts. Existing facilities could also be upgraded and improved to increase efficiency and net power output.
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Biomass
The most common form of biofuels used in Sri Lanka is biomass, where sustainably grown crops or agricultural waste is utilized for steam generation, which in turn is used to power small steam turbines.
Sri Lanka has a sustainable energy potential from biofuel generated power due to high volume of biomass created every year. Although not very common, small biomass based power stations less than a megawatt are already operating in Sri Lanka.
This resource could be further expanded in rural areas where proper energy access has not yet been made. Most rural areas in Sri Lanka, where tea, rubber, coconuts, or other agricultural crops are grown, have a large potential due to the high periodical biomass their farms create. Sri Lanka’s exports mainly include tea, rubber, and coconuts, which could be a major source of biomass resource.
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Geothermal
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Although Sri Lanka is not located in active geological locations where geothermal energy is abundant, the country has about 10 geothermal-fuelled hot springs which is suitable for power generation, according to the Director of the Institute of Fundamental Studies Prof. C.B. Dissanayake.
The potential geothermal belt runs from Hambantota in the south, to Trincomalee in the north, extending for over through some of the most underdeveloped regions of the country.
Further studies on environmental impacts, actual electrical potential, and other key indicators, are currently being studied. No operating geothermal facilities is currently operating in Sri Lanka.
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Ocean energy
The Sri Lanka’s government had also expressed interest in the exploitation of ocean energy, particularly ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) and wave energy, as Sri Lanka does not experience tides strong enough for tidal power. According to the Oceanography Division of the National Aquatic Resources Agency, Sri Lanka has identified 14 sites along the coastline, suitable for such development.
The construction of a first ocean energy prototype plant using OTEC is yet to be commenced. Like geothermal energy, no operating ocean energy utilizing power stations exist yet.​
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References
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http://www.cbsl.gov.lk/pics_n_docs/10_pub/_docs/statistics/other/econ_&_ss_2011.pdf
http://www.energy.gov.lk/sub_pgs/hom_hgdata.html
http://earthtrends.wri.org/text/biodiversity-protected/country-profile-167.html
http://www.ceb.lk/sub/other/networkg.html
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http://www.ceb.lk/sub/publications/statistical.aspx
http://www.cbsl.gov.lk/pics_n_docs/10_pub/_docs/statistics/other/econ_&_ss_2011.pdf
http://www.energy.gov.lk/sub_pgs/develop_provisional.html
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http://www.ukhp.lk/keymilestones.html
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_11A/Aug05_1312512493CH.php
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http://www.news360.lk/other/a-wind-power-plant-in-kalpitiya
http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/04/12/news37.asp
http://www.asianmirror.lk/english/index.php/news/5784-cabinet-approves-sampur-coal-power-plant
http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy03osti/34645.pdf
http://www.nrel.gov/wind/pdfs/34518.pdf
http://www.energy.gov.lk/sub_pgs/energy_renewable_hydro_potential.html
http://www.energy.gov.lk/sub_pgs/energy_renewable_hydro_conventional.html
http://www.efsl.lk/details.aspx?catid=3
http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/sri-lanka/export-import.html
http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/11/16/news13.asp
http://www.development.lk/news.php?news=616