The Sri Lankan government has decided to change its coal-based power generation plan and not go for more coal plants and instead shift tow
ards renewable energy, power minister Patali Ranawaka said. The previous generation plan envisaged adding about 200 megawatts a year of coal based power plants, he said.A 300MW coal power plant being built by the Chinese in north-western Puttalam is expected on come on stream before the end of the year and will later be expanded to a total of 900MW.
Another coal power plant is to be built by an Indian company in Sampur, near the north-eastern Trincomalee harbour.
"After the Sampur power plant comes by 2014 we will not go for any more coal power plants," Ranawaka told a news conference.
"We want to exploit clean, renewable energy sources and reduce our emissions. Also, fossil fuel reserves are being exhausted."
The short-term priority is to reduce the cost of operating expensive diesel and heavy-fuel based thermal power plants which now provide the base load power by converting to less costly fuel, he said.
Ranawaka said a US survey showed the island has a potential of about 20,000MW of wind power.
"Now our capacity is 2,500MW. If we can harness 4-5,000MW of wind power we can simply double our capacity."
A government company will be set up to exploit renewable energy sources like wind and hydro-power.
In the recent past Sri Lanka has paid a heavy price for deviating from the long term generation plan of Ceylon Electricity Board.
The plan advocated coal power nearly two decades earlier but political decision making delayed coal plants.
Analysts say other than large hydro plants most other renewal plants are expensive.
Petroleum is usually expensive because governments heavily tax oil while some renewables a sustained with public subsidies.
Most renewables are also not 'firm energy' in that they are less reliable, subject to uncertainties of weather, power sector analysts say.
In Sri Lanka for example mini-hydro come in and out of the system as and when there is water and the CEB effectively has to maintain an extra buffer.
This makes the real cost higher than the actual cash tariff paid to mini hydros. But mini hydros are also not paid a capacity charge.
Wind and solar energy plants are paid high tarriffs, compared to coal, despite being uncertain.
Dendro or wood based energy however could be more certain, as it also has an element of storage, but industry analysts fear whether supply of wood could be made reliable enough.
A small trial plant which was operated by an independent producer has also not inspired confidence among analysts.
The current generation plan envisages alternative renewable component of about 15 percent of total capacity.
Higher levels of energy which is not 'firm' especially if they are produced through a large number of small plants - especially those that cannot be centrally dispatched or brought in an out of the grid as required - may increases stresses on the national power supply.
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