Sri Lanka’s journey towards renewable energy

Sri Lanka is on a transformative journey towards renewable energy. Just like Australia, Sri Lanka faces unique geographical and infrastructural challenges. Navigating their own path amidst the tropical landscapes and flourishing energy demands, with a commitment to reduce emissions and achieve sustainability, the country is embracing renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower.

As of recent reports, Sri Lanka's total electricity generation has been steadily rising, driven primarily by renewables. By 2030, the energy mix aims to include 24.7% solar, 15.5% wind, 24.6% hydro, 4.7% biomass, 10.56% natural gas, and 20% coal. These numbers are expected to rise further, surpassing coal for the first time and signifying a crucial turning point in the nation's energy transition.

WindForce is a key player in Sri Lanka's renewable energy landscape. As a pioneering company dedicated to harnessing wind, solar and hydropower throughout strategic locations across the nation, WindForce has been instrumental in deploying wind turbines in regions with optimal wind conditions, contributing to the diversification of Sri Lanka's energy portfolio. With 8 plants generating a total of 258.6 GWh annually, the plants additionally save a collective of 182,900 MT of CO2 emissions and are located across Sri Lanka. The 8 solar power plants in Sri Lanka varying from 2 megawatts to 11 are also progressing well. These initiatives not only strengthen the renewable energy sector but also create local employment opportunities and support economic growth in rural areas.?

The transition to renewable energies has its challenges. The country's ageing grid infrastructure requires modernisation to accommodate the fluctuating nature of renewable energy sources. Grid resilience is crucial, necessitating innovative solutions such as synchronous condensers and flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS) to efficiently stabilise the grid during peak demand periods.

As per the Asian Development Bank by 2050 achieving 100% renewable electricity generation needs significant investments in the power sector. To achieve this target the report estimates $54-$56 billion required investments including transmission and distribution infrastructure which is $3.5-$6.5 billion respectively aiming to strengthen grid connectivity and ensure reliable power distribution nationwide.

Moreover, there is a chance to generate excess electricity due to Sri Lanka's wealth of renewable resources, especially wind and solar. Cutting-edge technologies such as electrolysers have the potential to play a key role in the process of turning surplus electricity into hydrogen, which would help decarbonise industrial sectors and possibly establish Sri Lanka as a global exporter of hydrogen.

Although Sri Lanka has many obstacles to overcome in its quest for renewable energy leadership, the country is well-positioned to meet its sustainability objectives thanks to smart investments, cutting-edge research and development, and cooperative efforts. Sri Lanka can become a shining example of success in the global energy transition by carefully navigating these intricacies and showcasing the transformative power of renewable energy in a tropical island setting. Hopefully, we are able to make major changes in the energy landscape in Sri Lanka as well as on the global scale contributing to a greener future without hindrance.