Mar 3 2011
Small Hydro power projects, Sri Lanka’s most successfully managed renewable energy producing source, have planned to accomplish 6.8% of Sri Lanka’s power requirement by significantly enhancing their power supply to the national grid.
Anil Makalanda, President of the Small Hydro Power Developers Association, participated in a recently organized celebration to honor the contribution of an additional 175 MW through Small Hydro Power projects. He stated that arrangements are in progress to add 350 MW power to the national grid by 2020. He added that the small hydro power segment has achieved a stage in which ideal locations for the upcoming projects have already been identified.
Anil Makalanda mentioned that they expect Sri Lanka’s Sustainable Energy Authority, the facilitation agency and authorizing officials like the Central Environmental Authority and other related organizations, to provide an active support in the sanction process of these projects. He added that the small hydro power industry has been helping the government to save around Rs.10 billion every year from the foreign exchange bill of the nation and has perpetually enabled the country to minimize the high cost involved in the production of thermal energy.
Till date, the number of small hydro power projects in the nation has considerably increased to 90 from 2 in 1996 and around 84 projects are scheduled to be commissioned in the upcoming years. Makalanda mentioned that 57 grid connected mini hydropower projects, generating 137.366 MW of electricity, have received support from the World Bank, since the small hydropower plants function at a reduced cost in contrast to the oil-fired power plants. He stated that when compared to other methods of renewable energy production, mini hydropower projects are the cheapest means and eco-friendly. He added that these projects adopt run-of-the-river approach that discharges water again into the main stream after generating power.
According to industry figures, the current maximum power generation capability in Sri Lanka is 2,000 MW and in 2013 it would reach around 7,000 MW.