Power generation in Sri Lanka:

Renewable energy stake to be increased

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

The Government envisages increasing the stake of renewable energy in power generation by 10 percent by 2015.

Speaking at the “Vidulka Energy Symposium” held at the BMICH recently, the chief guest Professor Krishan Deheragoda said Sri Lanka should directly invest in green energy technologies because the country is having a vast amount of renewable energy sources such as hydro, solar, wind and biomass plus economic opportunities.

Renewable energy is one of the key solutions to the current challenges facing the world’s energy future. Better access to sustainable energy services is necessary to foster economic growth at the macro level, and to stimulate businesses and income generating activities at the micro level. Many countries already foster the production and use of renewable energy through economic and political approaches. Sri Lanka has already developed 170 MW of hydro, 30 MW of wind and 10 MW of biomass to its credit, the latest being the 1 MW Solar Park under construction. The current use of renewable energy is still limited in spite of its vast potential, he said.

Prof Deheragoda said that green energy presents an attractive and rewarding solution to the increasing global energy demand, global warming, and rising energy prices.

The peak demand of the country at present is 2,000 MW and the demand continues to rise at eight percent annually.