The Government is keen to reduce the dependency on thermal energy which comprises coal and fuel and is exploring the possibility of powering the country through renewable energy, the new Chairman of the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, Prof. Wjendra Jayalath Bandara said.
In his maiden meet-up with the media after assuming duties on November 4, he said that the country needs funds to reduce this mismatch and they were awaiting grants from donor countries where these countries too would benefit. He said two such projects funded by South Korea are expected to be opened by the end of the month where two floating solar generating parks on the Chandrika Wewa and the Kiriibbanwewa in the Southern Province with each generating one megawatt are to be set up. He said through global carbon credit initiatives the donor countries too could get their investment returns by funding projects of this nature. “It’s a win-win for both countries. We are now looking at more ventures of this magnitude for more solar, wind and ocean energy projects without obtaining loans,” he added.
Prof. Bandara said more rooftop home solar initiatives should be encouraged and for this purpose they were reviewing the ‘buying tariffs’ which were reduced by the previous Government.
He also said that they will also soon commence installing solar on rooftops of all post offices, Pradeshiya Sabhas, schools and other State institutions enabling them to have a zero electricity bill and added that they were suggesting to the Government to introduce a zero interest loan scheme for households based on their monthly electricity bill.
“The Government will pay the interest on behalf of each loan to the banks.” This is a sound investment as having more solar power generation would help reduce the Government’s coal and fuel bill needed to power the country,” Prof. Bandara said.
He recalled that he was a keen promoter of renewable energy as he observed that fuel supply will dry up in the future and Sri Lanka could save millions of dollars by banking on natural energy sources to power the country. He also said that the world including Sri Lanka has enough natural resources to generate natural power.
Prof. Bandara said that he forwarded proposals in this regard which were even approved by Cabinet to the then Government that was in power in 2011 to reduce the dependency on alternative fuels.
“However, this timely proposal was then shelved by the then Secretary to the President. Had this proposal been accepted and implemented at the time there would not have been power cuts and fuel shortages which ultimately led to the Aragalaya and the change of Government, he added.
