Renewable energy power generation 35 pc by 2020

Priyanka KURUGALA

Sri Lanka will be able to generate 35 percent of electricity through renewable energy sources by 2020, Sustainable Energy Authority Director General Dr Thusitha Sugathapala said.

He said 20 percent of this will be through mini hydro power, wind power, solar power and bio max power. "Large scale hydro power plants will generate around 15 percent," Dr Sugathapala said.

Only seven percent of the country's energy requirement is generated by renewable sources, while 30 percent of electricity is generated by large scale hydro power plants at present.

Due to the increased demand, the energy generated from large scale hydro power plans will gradually be depleted to 15 percent from it's present 30 percent, he said.

In 2020, every mini hydro power and wind power plant will generate 400mw. In addition, each solar and bio max plant will generate 160 mw. The total amount of the energy by renewable energy is 1120mw, Dr Sugathapala said.