A sustainable , future proof and visionary Energy Policy for Sri Lanka
By Eng Parakrama Jayasinghe
The people have had their say and thankfully democracy has been the winner with kudos for the Election Commission and the Officials and the police for their exemplary conduct of the election which would be the envy of many nations.
The people who voted for the President Hon Anura Kumara Dissanayake and also those who did not would however now expect the change he has promised. In this regard one sector which has an immediate and long standing impact on not only the consumers but the national economy is the energy sector with Electricity sector being in the forefront albeit with only 12% contribution to the primary energy mix. However, being the most desired form of energy and with the potential for becoming the major contributor is in every one’s mind , in respect of the promises made both by the President as well as the other contenders. That is the most welcome commitment to develop the Renewable Energy resources.
Most people would not realize that Sri Lanka in blessed with ample such sources, which being entirely indigenous has the dual advantage of insulating us from the vagaries of world market prices and supply constraints of fossil fuels, as well as helping Sri Lanka to achieve the committed targets on reduction of carbon emissions.
In this regard it must be emphasized that it is much easier to save some of the FOREX being drained out of the country annually on imports, which can easily be replaced by local inputs, for which the capacity, feasibility and skills necessary are already available. Primary among these is the import of fossil fuels now at around $ 5,000 Million annually and a significant number of food items as well as inputs needed for agriculture. The missing ingredient of course is the political will and cohesive and firm policies, which has escaped us so far.
The greater price is the possibility of energy exports, considering the extent of our already quantified indigenous resources which hold forth the promise of an energy based economy similar to that of the middle east or the other fossil fuel rich nations, to make our woes of balance of payment issues a thing of the past.
The Interest in Renewable Energy.
All presidential candidates expressed the importance and need for the development of indigenous renewable energy sources to replace the imported fossil fuels. These intentions require future policy to be carefully worked out. Some essential features that should govern such a future policy are enumerated below.
Energy and Climate Change
Sri Lanka need not pay any specific attention to contribute positively to the Climate Change efforts, if the logical change to renewable energy is adopted as national policy. We can easily meet the commitments already made under the NDCs ( Nationally Determined Commitments) submitted to the UNFCCC. as a beneficial bonus of this change.
The logical policies and strategies for a Sustainable Future Energy Supply
While detailed themes , strategies and action plans follow, the desired change can emerge only from policies listed below, which embrace the earlier principles of peoples ownership of energy resources and the pathway for development has to be centered towards peoples development while ensuring access to the energy services and supplies at affordable prices as per Sustainable Development Goal No 7
- National Energy Policy to reach 80% Renewable Energy in the electricity sector by 2030 ( this was the logical target later pruned by the CEB to 70%)
- A firm national policy to ensure energy sector remains in control of Sri Lanka with necessary safeguards.
- To ensure reaching the target under the Suryabala Samgraamya to develop 1,000,000 units of roof top solar by 2030
- Ministry Directive to be issued to the CEB to develop a time targeted plan to reach 80% RE by 2030 with the mandate to achieve same, in collaboration with the private sector, who has already proven their capability and willingness to invest in this sector
- Development of Energy Plantation via plantation sector companies to ensure energy and fertilizer supplies to plantation factories and enhancing the profitability of plantation companies by becoming fuelwood suppliers via Gliricidia and Bamboo cultivation.
- Set a challenging time based target to develop Dendro Energy reaching 1000 MW by 2030 out of the potential of over 2500 MW, which has the special attribute of immediate rejuvenation of the rural economy in addition to other spin off benefits
- Implement the target of 20% light vehicle electrification by 2025 as proposed in the Gazette National Energy Policy dated Aug 2019. ( Ref 8 Section 4.5 -5f, and Ref 1 Pg 57 )
- 8. Adopt a policy of 100% EV by 2035 for light vehicles in line with the world trend of stopping manufacture of diesel and petrol cars by 2055
- Developing a vibrant local industry to convert existing 3W and Light cars to EVs, with financial support to the present users to convert. No further import of 3 W both petrol and electric.
- Import only EVs to cater for the need to attract more passengers to public transport thus relieving the uncontrolled traffic congestion on roads
- Develop the Green Hydrogen generation using the abundant RE resources as the means of monetizing the massive RE resource for export without the undesirable linkage to the Indian grid, as the potential for reaching terms of energy exchange favorable to Sri Lanka are minimal.
- While FDIs are welcome to the development of RE, the terms must be in the basis of already existing BOI regulations whereby they are confident of a fair return on investment. Under no circumstances should we pay Dollars for our own RE resources.
- The misconception of the need for large scale RE power plants has to be overcome. All RE development is an agglomeration of a large number of small plants, which are viable in the small scale. This opens the means of distributed generation to match the distributed demand by generating as close as possible to the load centers avoiding the need for expensive transmission line development and the inevitable power losses in such long transmission lines.
- Absolutely no unsolicited bids to be entertained for power generation for projects above 10 MW , as provided in the current electricity act No 20 of 2009 with amendments and the new electricity act No 36 of 2024 , Only fair and competitive transparent bidding procedures to be adopted. The provisions for exceptions from this condition are clearly laid out and should not be allowed to be manipulated to accept unsolicited proposals
- The close relationship and synergy between electricity and transport energy to be clearly understood and policies and strategies developed to leverage on this to ensure early achievement of the desired net zero goal, which is in the best interest of Sri Lanka
- Recognize the Sri Lankas best fortunate and circumstances to make a paradigm shift in the way energy is viewed at present, merely as an essential service to develop other sectors of the economy, to elevate it to a status of a vibrant and highly profitable industry on its own, with massive potential for earning foreign exchange and other many advantages.
- Recognize that Nuclear Energy has no place or relevance for Sri Lankan energy system, primarily because it lies outside the already accepted principle of developing only generation systems of least economic cost on one hand and to gain non dependence on imported sources of energy.
- Critically examine the viability of the yet pursued option of developing LNG power plants targeting imported LNG for which the essential infrastructure is not available nor are likely to be developed for many years at totally unknown cost, with the cost of generation of electricity impossible to be predicted.
- Mandate the elimination of use of oil for power generation by not later than 2030, commencing now in stages by replacing the gap in generation by RE based electricity and mandatory DSM measures. This would result in a saving of Rs 113 Billion annually to the CEB based on current costs.
The details and background for the development of these policy initiatives are available in www.bioenergysrilanka.lk
Eng. Parakrama Jayasinghe
is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer with a BSc Eng (honours) degree from the University of Peradeniya. He is fellow of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka and a Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers London.
