Renewable energy sources :

Boosting power generation

Indunil HEWAGE

Wind power generatorrs

Sri Lanka is to achieve 10 percent of the total energy generation from Non-Conventional Renewable Energy sources by 2015.

Seguwantivu Wind Power and Vidatamunai Wind Power Chief Executive Officer Manjula Perera said the wind power industry emphasizes the importance of adding 300 Megawatts of wind power to the national grid in three years.

Non-conventional renewable energy has managed to generate 5.5 percent of the energy requirement in the country so far. According to the present energy status of Sri Lanka, thermal power accounts for 47.5 percent of the total energy requirement of the country with 290 Megawatts. Hydropower accounts for 51.3 percent of the total energy requirement of the country with 390 megawatts and wind power accounts for 1.2 percent with 33 megawatts.

The total potential of the wind power industry in the country is estimated 20,740 Megawatts and Mannar, Kalpitiya and Ambewella have been identified as best windy areas. The South -West monsoon period from May to September and the North -East monsoon period from December to February are ideal periods for generating wind power in the country.