Energy in Sri Lanka
Encyclopedia
Energy sources in Sri Lanka consists primarily of hydro
, coal
, fossil fuel
and biomass
, with sources such as photovoltaics
and wind power
in early stages of development. Other power sources such as geothermal
, gas
, nuclear
, peat, solar thermal and wave power
are not used in the current power generation process for the national grid.
, hydroelectric
and other non-conventional renewable energy sources, which includes small hydro
.
being the largest hydroelectric source.
Although the most of the country's hydroelectric resources are depleted, the government still permits small hydro
developments by the private sector up to a total installed capacity of per project.
s in Sri Lanka runs either on diesel, gas
or other fuel oil
s. The first coal-fired power station, the Norocholai Coal Power Station, is expected to add the first of coal power to the grid by November 2010, and an additional by the year 2012. The second and last coal power station, the Sampur Coal Power Station
, is currently under consideration in Trincomalee
.
to power furnaces as early as 300 BC, making Sri Lanka one of the first countries in the world to utilize wind power
. Evidence of this has been found in Anuradhapura
and in other cities.. The development of modern wind farms has been considered by numerous local and international developers for many years. But, such developments were minimized due to the many obstacles faced in such developments in terms of both, economics and infrastructure. The first commercial grid-connected wind farm is the Hambantota Wind Farm
, located northwest of Hambantota
Unlike other power sources, power developments from this source would face many challenges during its development timeline. Poor accessibility to potential sites is the first obstacle faced during the development of a wind farm
. Most key transport routes around the country are too narrow or is constructed with tight turns to support transportation of turbines larger than . Constructing wind farms with turbines
smaller than the current commercial-scale megawatt-class turbines would prove to be uneconomical due to the high cost incurred during development.
The country is also in a long battle against its poor power grid. The grid, apart from being unstable in most provinces
, is only capable of handling a small increases in load at any given location, typically limited to a few megawatts. Provinces with poor grids, such as the power grids in the Northern
, North Central and North Western
provinces needs complete upgrade to support further commercial-scale developments. This factor contributes to a large percentage in development costs for wind farm
s constructed such locations.
The current government policy limit of per wind project also would prove that, in addition to the high development costs, wind power cost-per-megawatt would significantly increase, thus further straining such developments.
From December 2009 to March 2010, permits for another of projects were issued by the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA), before concerns relating to the issuing of permits were raised again, leading to another deadlock in the industry. As of June 2010, issuing of permits for the development of private wind farms are currently stopped.
In July 2010, engineers at the Ceylon Electricity Board
raised further concerns regarding the approval of private wind projects with extra high tariffs, presumably some of the highest tariffs in the world. A review of the current wind power tariff is expected to be carried out on the 12 of September 2010, after an agreed postponement.
of , approved by the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA).
introduced net metering
for the first time, where consumers could generate their own power from renewable sources and credit excess production back to the power utility. Although, the power utility will not pay-back irrespective of how much credit a household generates, while also allowing to transfer this credit between households. The first solar power facility, intended for net metering was commissioned in July 2010.
and Sri Lanka
via Rameshwaram in south India, and Talaimannar
in north-west Sri Lanka. The project involves the construction of a HVDC
connection between Madurai
in southern India, and Anuradhapura
in central Sri Lanka, through the Palk Strait
. The link would measure 285 kilometres (177.1 mi) in length, including 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) of submarine cables, and would take more than three years to construct. It would be implemented by the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited and Ceylon Electricity Board
.
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
, coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
, fossil fuel
Fossil fuel
Fossil fuels are fuels formed by natural processes such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms. The age of the organisms and their resulting fossil fuels is typically millions of years, and sometimes exceeds 650 million years...
and biomass
Biomass
Biomass, as a renewable energy source, is biological material from living, or recently living organisms. As an energy source, biomass can either be used directly, or converted into other energy products such as biofuel....
, with sources such as photovoltaics
Photovoltaics
Photovoltaics is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic power generation employs solar panels composed of a number of solar cells containing a photovoltaic material...
and wind power
Wind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
in early stages of development. Other power sources such as geothermal
Geothermal power
Geothermal energy is thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth. Thermal energy is the energy that determines the temperature of matter. Earth's geothermal energy originates from the original formation of the planet and from radioactive decay of minerals...
, gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
, nuclear
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
, peat, solar thermal and wave power
Wave power
Wave power is the transport of energy by ocean surface waves, and the capture of that energy to do useful work — for example, electricity generation, water desalination, or the pumping of water...
are not used in the current power generation process for the national grid.
Power sectors
Energy in Sri Lanka is generated by three main sources; thermalThermal power station
A thermal power station is a power plant in which the prime mover is steam driven. Water is heated, turns into steam and spins a steam turbine which drives an electrical generator. After it passes through the turbine, the steam is condensed in a condenser and recycled to where it was heated; this...
, hydroelectric
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
and other non-conventional renewable energy sources, which includes small hydro
Small hydro
Small hydro is the development of hydroelectric power on a scale serving a small community or industrial plant. The definition of a small hydro project varies but a generating capacity of up to 10 megawatts is generally accepted as the upper limit of what can be termed small hydro. This may be...
.
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydroelectric | 1,137 | 1,137 | 1,207 | 1,207 | 1,207 | 1,207 | 1,207 | 1,207 | 1,207 | 1,207 | |
| Thermal | 685 | 835 | 1,233 | 1,215 | 1,115 | 1,115 | 1,115 | 1,285 | 1,290 | 1,420 | |
| Other | 16 | 27 | 43 | 77 | 89 | 112 | 122 | 153 | 187 | 220 | |
| | 1,838 | 1,999 | 2,483 | 2,499 | 2,411 | 2,434 | 2,444 | 2,645 | 2,684 | 2,847 | |
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the main source of energy in Sri Lanka, taking a share of nearly 45% of the total installed capacity in December 2009. Hydroelectricity in Sri Lanka has been constantly developing since the introduction of the national grid itself, but is currently declining due to the exhaustion of its resource. Currently, ten large hydroelectric power stations are in operation, all between , with the Victoria DamVictoria Dam (Sri Lanka)
Victoria Dam is an arch dam located upstream of the Mahaweli River's mouth and from Teldeniya. Its main purposes are irrigation and hydroelectric power production. It is the tallest dam in Sri Lanka, and supports a power station, the largest hydroelectric power station in the country...
being the largest hydroelectric source.
Although the most of the country's hydroelectric resources are depleted, the government still permits small hydro
Small hydro
Small hydro is the development of hydroelectric power on a scale serving a small community or industrial plant. The definition of a small hydro project varies but a generating capacity of up to 10 megawatts is generally accepted as the upper limit of what can be termed small hydro. This may be...
developments by the private sector up to a total installed capacity of per project.
Thermal power
Thermal power stations are the largest source of power in Sri Lanka, taking a share of 48% of the total installed capacity in December 2009. Thermal power stationThermal power station
A thermal power station is a power plant in which the prime mover is steam driven. Water is heated, turns into steam and spins a steam turbine which drives an electrical generator. After it passes through the turbine, the steam is condensed in a condenser and recycled to where it was heated; this...
s in Sri Lanka runs either on diesel, gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
or other fuel oil
Fuel oil
Fuel oil is a fraction obtained from petroleum distillation, either as a distillate or a residue. Broadly speaking, fuel oil is any liquid petroleum product that is burned in a furnace or boiler for the generation of heat or used in an engine for the generation of power, except oils having a flash...
s. The first coal-fired power station, the Norocholai Coal Power Station, is expected to add the first of coal power to the grid by November 2010, and an additional by the year 2012. The second and last coal power station, the Sampur Coal Power Station
Sampur Coal Power Station
The Sampur Coal Power Station is a large coal-fired power station currently under construction in Sampur, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka....
, is currently under consideration in Trincomalee
Trincomalee
Trincomalee is a port city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka and lies on the east coast of the island, about 113 miles south of Jaffna. It has a population of approximately 100,000 . The city is built on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. Overlooking the Kottiyar Bay,...
.
Wind power
The use of wind energy was seen to be existing in the country even before 500 BC. The ancient Sinhalese used the monsoon windsMonsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
to power furnaces as early as 300 BC, making Sri Lanka one of the first countries in the world to utilize wind power
Wind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
. Evidence of this has been found in Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura, , is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization.The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic...
and in other cities.. The development of modern wind farms has been considered by numerous local and international developers for many years. But, such developments were minimized due to the many obstacles faced in such developments in terms of both, economics and infrastructure. The first commercial grid-connected wind farm is the Hambantota Wind Farm
Hambantota Wind Farm
The Hambantota Wind Farm is the first wind farm to be commissioned in Sri Lanka. The farm is located along south-eastern coast of Hambantota, and consists of five NEG Micon M1500-600 wind turbines of each...
, located northwest of Hambantota
Hambantota
Hambantota is a coastal city in the south of Sri Lanka. It is the capital of the Hambantota District...
Unlike other power sources, power developments from this source would face many challenges during its development timeline. Poor accessibility to potential sites is the first obstacle faced during the development of a wind farm
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
. Most key transport routes around the country are too narrow or is constructed with tight turns to support transportation of turbines larger than . Constructing wind farms with turbines
Wind turbine
A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used to produce electricity, the device may be called a wind generator or wind charger. If the mechanical energy is used to drive machinery, such as for grinding grain or...
smaller than the current commercial-scale megawatt-class turbines would prove to be uneconomical due to the high cost incurred during development.
The country is also in a long battle against its poor power grid. The grid, apart from being unstable in most provinces
Provinces of Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, provinces are the first level administrative division. They were first established by the British rulers of Ceylon in 1833. Over the next century most of the administrative functions were transferred to the districts, the second level administrative division. By the middle of the...
, is only capable of handling a small increases in load at any given location, typically limited to a few megawatts. Provinces with poor grids, such as the power grids in the Northern
Northern Province, Sri Lanka
The Northern Province is one of the 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but did not have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was...
, North Central and North Western
North Western Province, Sri Lanka
North Western Province is a province of Sri Lanka. The districts of Kurunegala and Puttalam formulate Wayamba. Its capital is Kurunegala, which has a population of 28,571. The province is known mainly for its numerous coconut plantations. Other main towns in this province are Chilaw and Puttalam...
provinces needs complete upgrade to support further commercial-scale developments. This factor contributes to a large percentage in development costs for wind farm
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
s constructed such locations.
The current government policy limit of per wind project also would prove that, in addition to the high development costs, wind power cost-per-megawatt would significantly increase, thus further straining such developments.
Current status
Despite the many technical obstacles, a few developments totalling up to have been proposed till September 2009. In October 2009, numerous cases were files over political interference connected with the approving of wind projects, leading to a complete halt in the wind power industry in Sri Lanka. The Ministry made allegations of wrongdoing in allocating energy licences, including the structuring of the wind power tariff. There were also allegations that energy licenses are being sold, similar to how car licenses have been sold.From December 2009 to March 2010, permits for another of projects were issued by the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA), before concerns relating to the issuing of permits were raised again, leading to another deadlock in the industry. As of June 2010, issuing of permits for the development of private wind farms are currently stopped.
In July 2010, engineers at the Ceylon Electricity Board
Ceylon Electricity Board
The Ceylon Electricity Board , is the largest electricity company in Sri Lanka. With a market share of nearly 100%, it controls all major functions of electricity generation, transmission, distribution and retailing in Sri Lanka. It is one of the only two on-grid electricity companies in the...
raised further concerns regarding the approval of private wind projects with extra high tariffs, presumably some of the highest tariffs in the world. A review of the current wind power tariff is expected to be carried out on the 12 of September 2010, after an agreed postponement.
Solar power
Grid-connected solar power has only recently been introduced. The only operational solar-powered facility is the Buruthakanda Solar ParkBuruthakanda Solar Park
The Buruthakanda Solar Park will be the first and only commercial-scale solar power station in Sri Lanka. The photovoltaic solar facility is currently under construction in Buruthakanda, in the Hambantota District...
of , approved by the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA).
Geothermal power
Geothermal power is currently under research, although no power stations of this type is currently operational.Nuclear power
Nuclear power was considered by the government, with intentions to implement it within 20 years.End-user power tariffs
The current monthly end-user electricity tariffs valid from July 2011 to December 2011 are as follows:| User | Unit (kWh)/time range | Tariff (Rs. Sri Lankan rupee The rupee is the currency of Sri Lanka, divided into 100 cents. It is issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and is generally written Rs. The rupee (Sinhala: රුපියල , Tamil: ரூபாய்) (sign: ₨; code: LKR) is the currency of Sri Lanka, divided into 100 cents. It is issued by the Central Bank of Sri... /kWh) | Fixed Charge (Rs. Sri Lankan rupee The rupee is the currency of Sri Lanka, divided into 100 cents. It is issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and is generally written Rs. The rupee (Sinhala: රුපියල , Tamil: ரூபாய்) (sign: ₨; code: LKR) is the currency of Sri Lanka, divided into 100 cents. It is issued by the Central Bank of Sri... /kWh) | Max. Demand Charge (Rs. Sri Lankan rupee The rupee is the currency of Sri Lanka, divided into 100 cents. It is issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and is generally written Rs. The rupee (Sinhala: රුපියල , Tamil: ரூபாய்) (sign: ₨; code: LKR) is the currency of Sri Lanka, divided into 100 cents. It is issued by the Central Bank of Sri... /kVA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic (D-1) | 000-030 | 03.00 | 030.00 | 000.00 |
| 031-060 | 04.70 | 060.00 | 000.00 | |
| 061-090 | 07.50 | 090.00 | 000.00 | |
| 091-120 | 21.00 | 315.00 | 000.00 | |
| 121-180 | 24.00 | 315.00 | 000.00 | |
| ≥181 | 36.00 | 315.00 | 000.00 | |
| Religious (R-1) | 000-030 | 01.90 | 030.00 | 000.00 |
| 031-060 | 02.80 | 060.00 | 000.00 | |
| 061-090 | 02.80 | 060.00 | 000.00 | |
| 091-120 | 06.75 | 180.00 | 000.00 | |
| 121-180 | 07.50 | 180.00 | 000.00 | |
| ≥181 | 09.40 | 240.00 | 000.00 | |
| Street Lighting | ∞ | 15.60 | 000.00 | 000.00 |
| Industry (I) | I-1: ∞ | 10.50 | 240.00 | 000.00 |
| I-2: Day (05:30-18:30) | 10.45 | 3,000.00 | 850.00 | |
| I-2: Peak (18:30-22:30) | 13.60 | 3,000.00 | 850.00 | |
| I-2: Off-peak (22:30-05:30) | 07.35 | 3,000.00 | 850.00 | |
| I-3: Day (05:30-18:30) | 10.25 | 3,000.00 | 750.00 | |
| I-3: Peak (18:30-22:30) | 13.40 | 3,000.00 | 750.00 | |
| I-3: Off-peak (22:30-05:30) | 07.15 | 3,000.00 | 750.00 | |
| Hotel (H) | H-1: ∞ | 19.50 | 240.00 | 000.00 |
| H-2: Day (05:30-18:30) | 13.00 | 3,000.00 | 850.00 | |
| H-2: Peak (18:30-22:30) | 16.90 | 3,000.00 | 850.00 | |
| H-2: Off-peak (22:30-05:30) | 09.10 | 3,000.00 | 850.00 | |
| H-3: Day (05:30-18:30) | 12.60 | 3,000.00 | 750.00 | |
| H-3: Peak (18:30-22:30) | 16.40 | 3,000.00 | 750.00 | |
| H-3: Off-peak (22:30-05:30) | 08.85 | 3,000.00 | 750.00 | |
| General Purpose (GP) | GP-1: ∞ | 19.50 | 240.00 | 000.00 |
| GP-2: ∞ | 19.40 | 3,000.00 | 850.00 | |
| GP-3: ∞ | 19.10 | 3,000.00 | 750.00 | |
Net metering
In July 2010, the Ministry of Power and Energy, along with the Lanka Electricity Company and the Ceylon Electricity BoardCeylon Electricity Board
The Ceylon Electricity Board , is the largest electricity company in Sri Lanka. With a market share of nearly 100%, it controls all major functions of electricity generation, transmission, distribution and retailing in Sri Lanka. It is one of the only two on-grid electricity companies in the...
introduced net metering
Net metering
Net metering is an electricity policy for consumers who own renewable energy facilities or V2G electric vehicles. "Net", in this context, is used in the sense of meaning "what remains after deductions" — in this case, the deduction of any energy outflows from metered energy inflows...
for the first time, where consumers could generate their own power from renewable sources and credit excess production back to the power utility. Although, the power utility will not pay-back irrespective of how much credit a household generates, while also allowing to transfer this credit between households. The first solar power facility, intended for net metering was commissioned in July 2010.
India – Sri Lanka power sharing agreement
The agreement involves the linking of the national grids of IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
via Rameshwaram in south India, and Talaimannar
Talaimannar
Talaimannar is a settlement in Sri Lanka located on the northwestern coast of Mannar Island.- Transport :Prior to the severe destructions by a cyclone in December 1964, it was the terminus of a ferry service to India across the very shallow Palk Bay...
in north-west Sri Lanka. The project involves the construction of a HVDC
High-voltage direct current
A high-voltage, direct current electric power transmission system uses direct current for the bulk transmission of electrical power, in contrast with the more common alternating current systems. For long-distance transmission, HVDC systems may be less expensive and suffer lower electrical losses...
connection between Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
in southern India, and Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura, , is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization.The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic...
in central Sri Lanka, through the Palk Strait
Palk Strait
Palk Strait is a strait between the Tamil Nadu state of India and the Mannar district of the Northern Province of the island nation of Sri Lanka. It connects the Bay of Bengal in the northeast with the Palk Bay and thence with the Gulf of Mannar in the southwest. The strait is wide. Several...
. The link would measure 285 kilometres (177.1 mi) in length, including 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) of submarine cables, and would take more than three years to construct. It would be implemented by the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited and Ceylon Electricity Board
Ceylon Electricity Board
The Ceylon Electricity Board , is the largest electricity company in Sri Lanka. With a market share of nearly 100%, it controls all major functions of electricity generation, transmission, distribution and retailing in Sri Lanka. It is one of the only two on-grid electricity companies in the...
.