Despite national ambitions to achieve 70% of the total electricity requirement through Renewable Energy (RE) sources by 2030, Sri Lanka faces a significant shortfall in meeting its targets. According to the Power and Energy Ministry’s Progress Report for 2023, the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) has fallen short in realising its renewable energy goals.
As of August last year, only 30.4 MW of projects were commissioned, representing approximately 5.74% of the initially planned 529 MW total capacity set to be added to the grid by the end of 2023.
The planned additions included 157 MW of major hydro (Uma Oya, Moragolla, and Broadlands), 160 MW of distribution-connected embedded solar PV, 147 MW of grid-connected ground-mounted/floating solar PV, 25 MW of wind, 20 MW of biomass, and 20 MW of hydro power plants.
In addition, the SLSEA, according to the report, has signed seven Power Purchasing Agreements (PPAs) for a total of 10.75 MW of mini-hydro, 10 MW of wind, 10 MW of solar, 10 MW of biomass, and 6 MW of agricultural and industrial waste.
The ambitious goal of achieving 70% electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030 in the country requires a substantial addition of 5,766 MW of renewable power capacities between 2023 and 2030. The breakdown includes 151 MW from major hydro, 175 MW from mini-hydro, 3,805 MW from solar, 1,475 MW from wind, and 160 MW from biomass.
As outlined in the Long-Term Generation Expansion Plan (LTGEP), the envisioned electrical energy mix for 2030 highlights a diverse portfolio. It includes 24.7% from solar, 15.5% from wind, 24.6% from hydro, 4.7% from biomass, 10.56% from natural gas, and 20% from coal.
The total investment required during the 2023-2030 period for renewable generation capacities, associated storage, and related transmission infrastructure is estimated at $ 11,200 million. Additionally, there is a need for a $ 1,001 million investment in the natural gas-driven thermal generation fleet.
The power plant additions proposed in the base case of the draft LTGEP for the years 2023 to 2026 indicate a significant emphasis on renewable energy sources, particularly wind and solar PV. The plan proposes additions such as 1,795 MW of solar PV, 575 MW of wind power, 90 MW of mini-hydro, 80 MW of biomass, and 188 MW of major hydro, totalling 2,728 MW of renewable power.
Integrating RE to national grid
The ‘Report of the Way Forward of Integration of Renewable Energy Resources to the National Grid from 2023-2026,’ identified that it was essential to absorb the maximum possible amount of renewable energy to the national grid from 2022 to 2026 from renewable energy power projects as per the legal framework of the power sector, in line with the Renewable Energy Development Master Action Plan (REDMAP).
It also needs to be feasible in connecting with the existing transmission and distribution networks of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) without substantial investment on the expansion of the transmission and distribution network to meet the Government policy directive. It is estimated that approximately 2,500 MW of additional renewable energy capacities including rooftop solar could be absorbed into the national grid by 2026.
As highlighted in the report, the candidate projects to be implemented during the 2023 to 2026 period consists of ongoing renewable energy projects awarded through the competitive tendering process, projects identified to be executed through competitive tenders in the future, ongoing projects where Standardised Power Purchase Agreements (SPPAs) were signed with the CEB prior to 2017, projects having SLSEA Energy Permits and expecting to sign SPPAs with the CEB under the published SPPA tariff, projects having SLSEA Provisional Approval (PAs) expecting to obtain CEB Letters of Intent (LOIs), and projects having SLSEA Provisional Approval along with Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for specific project locations expecting initial CEB grid interconnection concurrence under negotiated tariff for implementation.
CEB changes course?
In such a backdrop, a senior official attached to the CEB, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed that the board was deviating from its initial plan laid out for absorbing the RE resources to the national grid, which could prevent affordable and reliable projects coming into the grid.
However, speaking to The Sunday Morning on a previous occasion, CEB Chairman Nalinda Ilangakoon said that RE projects would be prioritised on a first come, first served basis.
Therefore, concerns have been raised as to whether the CEB or the SLSEA have identified locations for the projects which would be allowed.
As per the ministry’s progress report, the SLSEA’s ongoing projects include 80 MW of rooftop solar PV installations for Government buildings, 50 MW of rooftop solar PV systems with battery storage for low-income households, and 50 MW of rooftop solar PV systems for religious sites under the Indian credit line programme. Eighty-six percent of locations (4,098) have been surveyed by the teams of consultants for the above projects, with a detailed report prepared by revising the project scope.
In addition, South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy has agreed to provide grant funding of approximately KRW 14.3 billion and KRW 6.83 billion for the implementation of the above projects.
The projects will involve the installation of 1 MW floating solar PV systems on Kiriibban Wewa and Chandrika Wewa, respectively. The project to construct a hybrid renewable energy system in small islands in Jaffna aims to generate electricity on the islands of Analaitivu, Delft, and Nainativu, with hybrid power plants based on photovoltaic, wind power, diesel generators, and Lithium-ion storage batteries.
The project is expected to be completed in three years. In 2023, the rebidding procedure commenced and bids were opened on 31 July 2023 and closed on 14 September 2023. Large-scale national renewable energy projects are being undertaken by the SLSEA with a total capacity of 596 MW which generates total electrical energy of 2,821 GWh, representing about 17% of the annual energy requirement in the country.
SLSEA’s initiatives
In 2023, the SLSEA’s Resource Mapping Division updated the renewable energy development plan, initiated national park projects for 500 MW, and identified land ownership for another 500 MW of projects.
This division is vital for precise resource assessments needed for technically- and environmentally-sound solar and wind power plants.
Accordingly, projects of 100 MW capacity were prioritised for grid integration and the future direction for grid integration from 2027 to 2030 has been finalised. The SLSEA also revised turbine locations for the wind park at Veravil and submitted large-scale renewable sites for inclusion in the Long-Term Generation Expansion Plan (2023- 2044) to the CEB.
In such a backdrop, when contacted by The Sunday Morning, SLSEA Chairman Eng. Ranjith Sepala said there had been delays in some projects but that the authority was currently expending all its efforts to expedite all projects to meet deadlines.