Mini-hydropower, cheapest for national grid

Harshini Perera and Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

Mini-hydro power contribution to the national grid will be the cheapest source of power to the country compared to other renewable energy sources. The total installed capacity of the mini-hydro power plants to the national grid is 181 megawatts. It contributed 546 giga watt hours (GWH) which is four percent of the national demand as at December 31 last year, a Small Hydropower Developers Association official told Daily News Business. There was a 20 megawatts increase in the total contribution to the national grid from the mini-hydro power sector.

The sector has a total potential of 500 megawatts and the entire potential can be harnessed in three years with committed state facilitation.

There are over 100 small and large companies involved in the mini-hydro power sector including Vallibell, Hemas, Vidullanka, Central Finance and Jafferjee Brothers.

Among them Vallibel, Vidullanka and Hemas are listed in the Colombo Stock Exchange.

The geographical areas that suit mini-hydro power plants are Ratnapura, Kegalle, Matale, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, and borders of Galle, Matara, Kalutara and Kurunegala. Since 1996 Sri Lanka has a matured renewable energy industry and recognized as the best performing funding project of its kind by the World Bank.

The expertise is sought after internationally in the renewable energy sector and the technical knowledge is exported.

The use of local know-how with imported technology adapted to suit local conditions and the use of local raw materials will reduce the energy cost for mini-hydro power plants.

Rapid development in the sector depends on a sustainable tariff scheme that is transparent and equitable.

Streamlining lengthy bureaucratic approval processes and provision of adequate electricity evacuation facilities are needed.

It is also important to assist to acquire required land under state patronage and commitment of the Government to achieve national renewable energy targets, the official said.

There is an extensive potential for Sri Lankan developers in Africa and Asia. Majority of the projects in Sri Lanka are responsibly developed and have minimal impact on the environment.

These are “run-of-the-river” projects where water is used to generate power and released back into the stream.

There is also a mandatory flow release to maintain river life throughout.

These projects use nature’s resources without polluting the environment. Indigenous resource utilization means that foreign exchange is also saved by avoiding the import of expensive fuel.

These projects result in raising the quality of rural households by providing employment and infrastructure facilities such as roads, bridges, community centres.