“The Sustainable Energy Authority will supply 80 per cent of power of the national grid via renewable energy sources,” Solar Systems, Wind and Biomass Energy Sources Development State Minister Duminda Dissanayake said.
The State Minister said that the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board will support other related institutions in this regard. He said that the SLSEA and Atomic Energy Board have been instructed to submit shortcomings, rules and regulations if any in ordinances that hinder renewable energy development projects, to make necessary amendments.
The State Minister said that activities of private agencies that sell solar systems will be checked to ascertain whether they are equipped with technologies and trained staff.
Such system is needed to identify fake agencies since the sector is new and bears very high national importance, the State Minister said.
The State Minister said that expanding the renewable energy based electricity without a proper plan may result in unnecessary problems.
The State Minister, referring to the bio-fuel for electricity generation, said that special attention has been given to Gliricidia and Cinnamon as two most suitable plants for generating renewable power.
He said that biomass based electricity generation is a sustainable process in many countries.
“Gliricidia grows in every part of the country and cinnamon in nearly 50,000 hectares in Galle and Matara. We will use advanced technologies to generate renewable energy, the State Minister said.
Electrical Engineer J. Karunanayake said that a round 25 Mw of bio-fuel electricity plants have been connected to the National grid. Apart from Gliricidia, Cinnamon has a huge potential in generating bio-fuel power. Collectable quantity of Cinnamon for power generation is 70 per cent, its electrical energy producing potential is around 80 GWh with a capacity addition of nearly 11 Mw, Karunanayake said.
