Renewable energy share in power generation – President misled by advisers

by Dr. Janaka Ratnasiri

A press release issued by the President’s Media Division on 14.09.2020 says that plans should be made to generate 70% of the country’s overall electricity requirements from renewable energy (RE) sources by 2030. This is a deviation from the target of 80% given for the same purpose in the President’s manifesto seeking peoples’ mandate for the Presidency. Obviously, the President has been misled by his advisers saying that the 80% target cannot be achieved.

PRESIDENT OFFICE PRESS RELEASE ON ELECTRICITY GENERATION

The press release gives a summary of decisions taken at a meeting held on 14.09.2020 where the future plans of the State Ministry of Solar Power, Wind and Hydro Power Generation (SW&H Power) were discussed by the President with the State Minister of SW&H Power, Minister of Power, Secretaries to the President and the Ministers, heads of stake holder organizations and representatives of the RE industry.

The President had said the countries world over are moving away from fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum oil towards renewable energy sources in order to arrest the anticipated climate change. He has pointed out that Sri Lanka should adopt renewable energy sources wherever possible enabling the future generations to enjoy the benefits of sustainable development. He has further said that the government has granted the highest priority for RE projects and directed the President’s Secretary to issue a circular to all institutes informing them of this decision and seeking their assistance.

Among the other matters discussed were installation of solar PV panels on roof-tops in government schools, factories and other government establishments, building wind energy projects at Mannar, Pooneryn and Siyambalanduwa and the need to remove barriers for the private sector to invest on RE projects.

PREVIOUS CABINET DECISIONS AND PLANS ON RE PROJECTS

The Government during 2016-18 has decided to install roof-top Solar Power plants with capacity up to 1000 MW by 2025 on a war footing (Soorya Bala Sangramaya) (Cabinet decision on 09.08.2017). The Cabinet on 02.05.2017 has approved the allocation of LKR 300 million to install roof-top solar panels in government establishments, which was followed up by another decision taken on 05.12.2017 in which approval was granted to award contracts for their establishment in 63 Government hospitals, 13 Government schools and 01 Divisional Secretariat Division.

Cabinet approvals were granted on 16.12.2016 for building a Solar Power Park of capacity 100 MW in Siyambalaanduwa, on 28.02.2017 for building a 100 MW capacity Floating Solar Power Energy Plant at Madura Oya Reservoir and on 23.05.2017 for building a 240 MW Wind Power and an 800 MW Solar Power Hybrid Energy Park at Pooneryn. Other than carrying out some preliminary investigations, nothing firm including sourcing investors or necessary approvals has been undertaken.

CURRENT SHARE OF RENEWABL ENERGY IN THE SYSTEM

The current power system in Sri Lanka comprises a mix of thermal power plants, both oil and coal fired, hydropower plants, both major plants and mini-hydro plants and several wind, solar and biomass systems. Their capacities and actual annual energy generated in 2018 are shown in Table 1, with data sourced from CEB’s 2018 Statistical Digest. The average plant factor for each type of power plant (PF) is also shown in the Table 1. (see table 1)

It is seen that the share of RE in the total power generation in 2018 was 45.4%, based on actual energy generated during the year. The average PF for solar panels has been 19.7% while that for wind power plants has been 29.3%. Hence, in estimating energy generation in future RE power plants, an average PF of 20% was assumed for solar panels and 30% for wind power plants. The challenge therefore is to raise the RE share of 45% to 80% within the next 12 years.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Sri Lanka (SLSEA) which is mandated to promote and regulate the development of RE projects has given in its website a list of RE projects that have been connected to the grid as at 30.06.2020 and also a list of RE projects that have been granted permission. A summary is shown in Table 2 along with the estimated energy generation using plant factors given in Table 1. It is expected that the plants for which permission has been granted will be commissioned by 2030.(See table 2)

PLANS FOR FUTURE GENERATION EXPANSION

The CEB prepares once in two or three years a long-term generation expansion (LTGE) plan where the future demand for power during each year of the planning period is first estimated. As per Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Act No. 31 of 2013, the LTGE Plan prepared by the CEB needs the approval of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) before implementation. The latest approved plan is in respect of 2018-37. A later plan prepared for 2020-39 released in May 2019 is yet to be approved. The capacities of different plant types recommended in the 2020-39 LTGE Plan to be added annually during the period 2020 – 2030 are shown in Table 3. The Annex 8.4 of the Plan gives the estimated generation from each of the plant types and using these, the total generation from RE sources and the total from all sources estimated are also shown in Table 3.(see table 3)

It is seen that the total RE contribution in 2030 will be 11,102 GWh, while the total generation will be 31,738 GWh. This gives the RE share in the total generation as 35.0%. This is a reduction from the 2018 actual value of 45.4 %. This shows that CEB’s planning process has ignored the President’s policy as outlined in his manifesto where he has announced that he wished to have RE sources contributing at least 80% of the total electricity generation by 2030. Instead of showing an increasing trend, the Plan shows a decreasing trend for the RE contribution.

Taking into consideration the contents in the press release issued on 14.09.2020 after having discussions with the State Minister of SW&H Power and officials of stakeholder institutes as given in the introductory paragraph, the writer proposes the following adjustments be made to the energy mix for electricity generation, in order to reverse this trend.

Consider adding 520 GWh for hydropower by building a reservoir below St. Clair’s Falls to utilize water spilling over the Upper Kotmale plant during the daytime and linking it with the existing shaft of the Upper Kotmale power plant, details of which were given in writer’s previous articles.

Retire all diesel operated thermal power plants including the two combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plants at Kelanitissa which are running at low efficiency and served their useful life by 2030.

Retire the existing coal power plant at Puttalam as it will be 20 years old by 2030.

Drop the plans for building new coal power plants including the proposed extension to the existing coal plant at Puttalam.

Table 4 gives the generation from each type of plants in 2030 as given in the CEB Plan as well as under the adjusted scenario. The latter shows the total thermal energy generated will be only 6,385 GWh including 489 GWh from CCGT at Kerawalapitiya and 113 GWh from the gas turbines which are retained for peaking purposes. The base load will be met by the five natural gas operated CCGT power plants each with capacity 300 MW having an efficiency over 55%. In order to meet the total demand of 31,800 GWh by 2030 and achieve the target of 80% of RE share, it will be necessary to have at least 20,600 GWh generated from RE sources, that is a 3-fold increase from CEB’s estimate. The question is whether it is technically and financially feasible to achieve this target in 10 years’ time.