EC9030 - ELECTRICITY GENERATION FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY

SOURCES

MINI PROJECT

REVIEW AND DETAILS OF ALL RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES

PROJECTS IN SRI LANKA

N. M. JAYAKODY
2014/E/011
SEMESTER 07
INTRODUCTION
The present world’s trend is more concerned towards energy security and sustainable development.
Therefore, the role of renewable energy is becoming more significant. The developing world is on
the track of involving in walking out from fossil fuels and engage in areas concerning energy
efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Therefore, renewable energy is an emerging sector
in the 21st century as an energy supply solution. Sri Lanka, which is a small island situated in the
South of the Indian Subcontinent, has an embraced renewable energy content in the generation of
electricity.
When the question of “What is Renewable energy?” is looked in to, Renewable Energy is any form
of energy which can be utilized by the present generation sector without affecting the generation
ability of the future and the right of using the energy resource. But when non-renewable energy
resources like Petroleum, Coal, Nuclear and Natural Gas are concerned, the consumption of such
resources cause rapid depletion of resources which restricts the future to make use of them. The
basic forms of renewable energy are based on solar energy (Direct Solar, Hydro, Biomass and
Wind). All these energy sources depend on the solar radiation except geothermal energy.
On the path to the achievement of the target of moving towards the power generation using
renewable energy sources, Non-Conventional Renewable Energy (NCRE) sources have
contributed 6.25% of total electricity generation of the national grid by 2011. The Sri Lankan grid
connected installed capacity for electricity generation from NCRE sources was 243.7MW which
included 91 small hydro power plants, 6 wind power plants, 4 solar power plants and 4 Biomass
power plants which are known as Small Power Producers (SPPs) by the end of 2011.
The pie chart shown below gives the existed installed capacity in MWs of each type of NCRE
power plants by the climax of 2011.
 Figure 1 Existed Installed Capacities of various NCRE sources

NCRE sources include generating power deploying small hydro plants, solar power, wind power
and biomass projects. A number of 105 NCRE power plants have contributed by 6.25% of the total
electricity generation in Sri Lanka by the year 2011. Out of these 105 power plants only the
Hambantota Wind Power Plant is owned by CEB while the rest being operated by the private
sector.

Figure 2 Energy Contribution in MWh of various NCRE plants

The pie chart above shows the energy contribution in MWh catered by various types of NCRE
power plants in 2011.
The Renewable Energy for Rural Economic Development (RERED) project is a pioneer which
helped in scaling up the renewable energy with the participation of the private sector investors and
financing them in a significant way. This project remains as the leader in establishing the
framework for the private sector to involve in renewable energy development in Sri Lanka,
institution and capacity building and also as a catalyst for critical policy development in the sector.
Deepening the liquidity in the financial sector for much longer-term financing that is more suitable
for financing utility scale renewable energy projects is a pressing need in Sri Lanka. Such financing
would not only lower the annuitized tariffs, but also help Sri Lankan project developers to compete
with international bidders for such types of power plants, e.g. large solar and wind farms being
prepared.
The project was conducted in several components as follows,
 Grid connected Renewable Energy Power Generation:
Continuation of refinancing support for mini-hydro projects provided under the preceding
Energy Services Delivery Project, and support for two other commercially available
renewable energy sources - wind and biomass, to result in an increase of nearly 85 MW of
grid-connected small-scale renewable energy capacity.
 Solar PV Investments: Credit and grant support for solar PV investments for household,
commercial, and institutional use to enable the market to become fully commercial. These
measures would enable Sri Lanka to achieve the indicated target of 85,000 solar systems.
 Independent Grid Systems: Support further commercialization of village hydro and other
community-based independent grid systems through refinancing and grant support for
investments and project preparation support.

SMALL HYDRO POWER PROJECTS

Sri Lanka has currently developed its large hydro power to almost the maximum in economic
potential. Small hydro power is considered as an alternative to the large scale projects as an
economical, sustainable and environmentally friendly source so as to contribute to the national
generation of the country as well as to promote electricity to rural population in Sri Lanka. A
large number of grid connected small hydro power plants developed by the private sector
contributes around 13% of the total hydro power capacity by the year 2011.
  Uma Oya Hydro Power Project
According to the performance report (2015-2016) by the Power and Renewable Energy Ministry,
the UOMDP is intended to divert 145 MCM of water to South Eastern Sri Lanka in a bid to
improve irrigation. The tunnel being constructed, which is expected to divert 200 million cu.m of
water annually from Uma Oya to Kirindi Oya, includes an underground power station at
Randeniya. This Project also includes proposals to build reservoirs in Puhulpola and Dyraaba, and
a 4-km-long tunnel connecting the two reservoirs. The approximate total length of the tunnel is
26km. The two pelton turbines installed will be of 60-MW capacity each. 290 gigawatt hours
(GWh) of electricity is to be generated annually. The power plant is supposed to connect to the
national grid through the Badulla Grid Sub-station through a high-voltage transmission line.
According to experts, the Uma Oya project will be ‘the last major hydropower development project
in Sri Lanka,’ as the two other projects proposed to be developed - Moragahakanda and Broadlands
- can only generate 25MW and 35MW respectively. The project is being executed in the area from
Welimada to Hambantota, and affects the Badulla, Monaragala and Hambantota Districts.

 Moragahakanda Hydro Power Project

The Moragahakanda Kaluganga Development Project which is a major component of Mahaweli
Master Plan has been progressing steadily and is to improve irrigation facilities to existing water
scarce farmlands (82,000ha) and most importantly open up new land (5000ha) for agriculture
development in Northern, North Central, Eastern and North Western provinces. The Project will
generate25MW hydro-power to the national grid. Increasing inland fish production, provision
of potable and industrial water requirements, Eco tourism and effective flood control are the other
targets of the project.

 Broadlands Hydro Power Project

The Broadlands project is located on the middle reaches of the Kelani River. The project is located
near the confluence of the Maskeli Oya and the Kehelgamu Oya. The project entails the
construction of:
o A 24 m high concrete gravity main dam.
o A concrete gravity diversion weir of height 19 m shall be constructed on the
Kehelgamu Oya.
o A run of the river type power plant (35 MW)
o Construction of a 4 km long overhead power transmission line.

 Seethawaka Hydro Power Project

This is a hydro power project in the Seetawaka Ganga Tributary of the Kelani River which was
identified as having a potential of around 30 MW. However this project will be developed as a
mini-hydro plant. Surveying will be commenced by end of 2013.

WIND POWER PROJECTS

Studies have revealed that wind source is the most promising option among the available
renewable energy sources in Sri Lanka.

 Seguwantivu Wind Power Project

Located along the coastal belt of the North Western Province, it is the first phase of the largest
wind power plant in Sri Lanka. Commissioned in May 2010, the 12 wind turbines with a capacity
of 800 KW each provide 10 MW of power to the National power grid.

 Vidatamunai Wind Power Project

The second phase of the largest wind power plant in Sri Lanka, it is also located along the North
Western Province and was commissioned in July 2010. The plant has 13 wind turbines with a
capacity of 800KW each provide 10 MW of power to the National power grid.

 Nirmalapura Wind Power Project

The project financed by Akbar Brothers (Pvt.) Ltd., Hidramani Group, Debug Computer
Peripherals (Pvt.) Ltd. along with Hayleys Industrial Solutions Pvt. Ltd,. The power plant was
commissioned in October 2011.

 Powergen Lanka Wind Power Project

This 10MW project is located on the coastal belt of the North Western Province, and was
completed on August 2012.

 Daily Life Renewable Energy Project

Located along the coastal belt in the North Western Province of Sri Lanka, the plant was completed
on March 2012 and has been in commercial operation since.

BIOMASS POWER PROJECTS

As currently estimated around 70% of the national biomass consumption comes under the informal
sector which is being used for household cooking, small commercial and industrial applications
while the rest is being used for industrial usages and for the purpose of electricity generation.
Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) has currently identified that Dendro power has much great
potential as a long term power generation option for both grid-connected and off-grid connected
communities.
As the GoSL has already recognized the need of using biomass for both commercial crops and fuel
option for generation of electricity, it has being declared to grown Gliricedia Sepum. The GoSL is
also in the plan of replacing 20% of the transport fuels by 2020.
  Tokyo Eastern Biomass Plant
The Tokyo Eastern Biomass Plant began construction in 2015 with an investment of over 2.5
billion rupees. The plant will contribute 70 Gwh per year to the national grid generated using
industrial and agricultural waste sourced through community trade. In total, the plant will produce
160 Thousand MW Hours of clean renewable energy per year, which equals to the annual
electricity consumption of 100,000 Sri Lankan rural households.

SOLAR POWER PROJECTS

Sri Lanka is country which receives a regular supply of solar radiation throughout the year as it is
located close to the equator. Therefore, it doesn’t show a substantial variation due to seasons.
Whereas the dry zone of Sri Lanka has been recognized as an area with a higher potential for
harnessing solar energy.

 A Solar Power Park in Hambantota

This Solar Power Project to be established in the Buruthakanda area in the Hambantota District
will be completed in 2 phases. While financial aid for the first phase will be provided by the
Japanese Government, The Korean Government has pledged it’s assistance for the 2nd phase.
Under this project the Japanese Government has pledged a sum of Rs. 1.2024 million to construct
a power station which will add to the Nation Grid 737 KW of Solar power.

 Vydexa Power Project

10MW solar photovoltaic power plant to be developed at Nedunkulama located in Vavuniya
District. A total of 35,721 nos of 350Wp solar photovoltaic modules to be installed. The power
plant is established in a land extend of 23 Ha in Nedunkulama. PV modules will be fixed on a
single tracking system which is capable of tracking the path of the sun during the day. The plant
to be commissioned in June 2017. It will contributing over 23 GWh of green energy to the National
Grid.

CONCLUSION
As a developing country, Sri Lanka trying to implement the smart grid concept is very critical to
achieve the energy requirement in future. Therefore renewable power generation and the
distributed generation should be developed in a way that can be very beneficial to the future
generation.

REFERENCES
[1] "Reports", Ministry of Power and Energy, 2018. [Online]. Available:
http://powermin.gov.lk/english/?page_id=4747. [Accessed: 05- Mar- 2018].
[2] S. R. I. Lanka, E. Sector, D. Plan, and F. O. R. A. Knowledge-based, “No Title.”
[3] H. Wickramasinghe, “Renewable Energy Development in Sri Lanka 1.0,” no. December,
2008.