More wind power

Indunil HEWAGE

The Government is further reviving its National Renewable Energy Policy to increase the target to 15 to 17 percent of energy generation by Non-Conventional Renewable Energy (NCRE) by 2015.

Wind power plants

Seguwantivu Wind Power and Vidatamunai Wind power Chief Executive Officer Manjula Perera said the Government prepared its first National Renewable Energy Policy in 2008.

Based on this policy, targets were set to have 10 percent of energy generation by Non-Conventional Renewable Energy (NCRE) sources by 2015. So far the country has achieved 5.5 percent of this target. "Wind Power is the only potential large scale NCRE source available in Sri Lanka to achieve the target of the Government.

To date 30 Megawatts of wind power plants are in successful operation in the country.

Another 60 Megawatts of wind power plants are in various stages of construction.

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is conducting further studies with a Danish consultancy firm on possibilities of absorbing more wind power into the National Grid, Perera said.

However the total potential of the wind power industry in Sri Lanka is estimated to be 20,740 megawatts. The favourable windy areas in the country are Mannar, Kalpitiya and Ambewela.