The Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) has been able to connect 1604 MW of renewable electricity to the national grid during the past two years, Chairman of the SLSEA Engineer Ranjith Sepala told the Sunday Observer.
He said that renewable electricity was generated from mini hydroelectricity plants (243MW), wind power (248 MW), solar power (ground mounted -140 MW) solar power (Roof top – 740 MW) 53 MW from combustion of Bio Mass including fire wood.
He said after the implementation of the Electricity Act (amended) No 16 of 2022 many obstacles which hindered the smooth handling of renewable electricity generation projects were removed. Our plan is to achieve the target of adding 5800 MW of renewable energy to the grid by 2030 and presently working in collaboration with the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to finalise the plan.
At present we have implemented six large scale renewable electricity generation projects. This includes 150 MW of Solar (Aggregated) Project at Hambantota envisaged to complete by end of 2024, which is going to be the largest solar capacity being connected to the national system.
In addition, 100 MW of Solar Project at Siyambalanduwa for which a tender awarded to a selected developer had already started the ground work with the intention of connecting to the national grid in the end of 2025. This project once completed will be able to generate energy 200 GWh per year.
All clearances have been completed on the 234 MW of wind project at Pooneryn and arrangements have been made to connect it to the national grid by early 2025. It will generate a total energy of 804 GWh yearly.
Meanwhile, arrangements have been made to set up 250 MW of wind project at Mannar and the relevant AIA completed and public comments are being awaited. This project is planned to connect to the grid in mid-2025 with total of energy 1025 GWh annually.
He said the 100 MW of Solar Project at Addamawadi, Batticalo will be connected to the national grid in 2024/2025 at the earliest possible and 50 MW of Solar Project at Sampoor by CEB/NTPC within 2024.
According to the SLSEA Chairman it has been decided to use the potential of wind power in Sri Lanka off shore with the studies conducted with World Bank funds recently coming out with positive results.
It has been found that there is a potentiality of generating 56000 MW through off shore wind power. Initially it is planned to add 1000 MW in 2030 from the first off shore wind project to the national grid.
