A separate State Ministry has been established for renewable energy sources development on the instructions of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. This is a highly commendable decision.
The Government on the instructions of the President is going to introduce special loan schemes for the installation of solar power electricity systems at domestic level which also a very welcome decision, said Sun Leaf Solar Solutions Managing Director Anil Pannilage.
He said so addressing an awareness programme on solar energy electricity for government officials and the business community in Anuradhapura recently.
Pannilage further said that at present, many industries required a source of thermal energy for various needs. The cost of such energy constituted a large fraction of the cost of production due to high price of traditional sources of fuels.
He said the use of imported fossil fuels causes a large drain from the country's foreign exchange. This requirement could be easily fulfilled by the use of solar, wind and biomass renewable energy sources to generate electricity.
"The Government's aim is to fulfill the country's total electricity requirement by using renewable energy sources, by 2050 under a number of phases. There is a strategic programme to encourage the public to be renewable energy producers while consuming electricity. The operation of rooftop solar power generation plants is to be encouraged. The CEB is prepared to pay for the surplus solar electricity to the public on the basis of Rs.22 per unit during the first seven years, Pannila added.
He cautioned the public to properly identify the genuine solar systems institutes registered under the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority.
