President’s ‘order’ to produce 70% from renewable energy: A response

Dr Janaka Rathnasiri (The Island, 1st March 2021) has not filled-up the relatively simple table of electricity costs, when the President’s order is implemented. I reproduce the table.

I gave him a clue (last column) by stating production costs approved and published by PUCSL for 2019. Wisdom acquired from internet on grants to reduce greenhouse gases may to be translated as reduced prices paid to electricity producers from renewable energy. Dr Rathnasiri may reflect them in production costs, as he fills-up the fourth column.

Filling-up the table needs no knowledge of electrical engineering, power system engineering, renewable energy technology or utility experience. It requires only elementary arithmetic. Dr Rathnasiri has to ensure 13% + A + B = 70% (equal to President’s order).

If 2030 is too far ahead to visualize, Dr Rathnasiri may fill-up the table for year 2021. The only number that he cannot change is 9.92, which also reflects another “order” from the government not to increase electricity prices. PUCSL, too, claimed credit many times over, for not increasing electricity prices. So, Rs 9.92 per unit has to stay.

Dr Tilak Siyambalapitiya