The renewable energy sector will reach the 70 percent energy generation from renewable sources much before 2030 to meet the country’s energy needs which is slated to treble by 2050, said energy sector experts at a forum in Colombo last week.
They said presently energy generated from renewable sources is around 60 percent and added that it will go beyond that level as the country strives to be less dependent on costly and toxic thermal fuel.
“Of around 6.5 million roofs only around 100,000 are solar installed and there are only a few wind power plants operating in the country. All these indicate that there is ample scope for expansion of solar and wind power generation in the country,” an energy expert said.
The Government in 2021 set the goal of achieving 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2050.
“Projections are that the energy demand in the country is growing faster than expected and it would treble in the next 25 years,” Public Utilities Commission, Director General Damith Kumarasinghe said.
He was speaking at a seminar on ‘Possible Green Energy Solutions to Lower Electricity Cost’ organised by the Chamber of Construction Industry held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute on Thursday.
He said the day and night time peak demand will grow exponentially in the years ahead and added that preparation for it is vital with a proper energy security plan.
“Everything in the energy sector boils down to energy security without which sustainability of the sector will be at stake,” Kumarasinghe said.
Energy security encompasses an uninterrupted supply of energy at an affordable price.
Availability, affordability, acceptability and accessibility are key factors of energy security.
“There is no point in a country having the best energy policies if people have no access to it due to affordability. Energy sources also need to be acceptable,” he said adding that had coal power been accepted as a viable source there wouldn’t have been an energy security issue in Sri Lanka.
Section 30 of the Sri Lanka Electricity Act of 2009 and Section 17 of the PUCSL Act of 2002 specify the reasonableness of tariffs.
Energy sector experts also noted that unlike other countries Sri Lanka is not serious about coal power generation.On the accessibility aspect the volatile security situation in the Straits of Hormuz could pose a serious threat to energy security in Sri Lanka.
Thus they said the authorities need to be mindful of this aspect in planning energy policies.
“Delays in implementing power projects, cancellation of matured projects, policy inconsistencies and climate changes affect electricity prices,” Chief Engineer-Generation Planning, CEB Eng. Eranga Jayarathna said.
