Potential future renewable technologies for Sri Lanka

The search and demand for renewable resources are increasing worldwide. Since the beginning of this century, various countries have taken measures to control climate change and its effects. These renewable resources are the only viable energy source available to all nations for climate change mitigation.

What is renewable energy?

Generally, Renewable energy is energy that is generated from a natural process that is continuously replenished. Also, when you hear the term “Alternative energy,” it usually refers to renewable energy. It means alternative energy sources to the most commonly used non-sustainable and non-renewable sources like fossil fuels.

Solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, hydropower, ocean energy, and bio energies are examples.  Renewable energy technologies are clean sources of energy that have a much lower environmental impact and minimize carbon pollution compared to conventional energy sources. Unfortunately, our use of non-renewable energy sources is the primary culprit responsible for climate change. Non-renewable energy is derived from what is known as fossil fuels, including coal, natural gas, petroleum, bitumen, and shale oil. These energy sources pose several climate risks from the moment we extract fossil fuels to the final consumption stage. We know that choosing alternative sources will positively impact the planet in many ways.

We must scale up those alternatives before facing two energy problems: hundreds of millions of people need access to sufficient energy. In addition, the dominance of fossil fuels in our energy system drives climate change and other health impacts, such as air pollution. Find out more here, Archived.

What energy sources does Sri Lanka use at the moment?

Sri Lanka’s primary energy supply mainly comes from oil and coal. Almost 40% of Sri Lanka’s electricity came from hydropower in 2017, but coal’s shares in power generation have been increasing since 2010. Sri Lanka is reaching universal access to electricity, but clean cooking remains an issue, with 15 million people still relying on biomass to cook.

Source

In the international market, many energy resources are available to import and use for our energy needs. However, up to now, Sri Lanka has been largely using only petroleum fuels for this purpose. However, increasing petroleum prices have prompted Sri Lanka to introduce coal in power generation and examine the feasibility of using other resources, such as coal and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), to replace liquid petroleum in specific applications.

In Sri Lanka, Coal, and petroleum are imported into the country. Biomass and petroleum are the dominant primary energy sources. In 2017, petroleum accounted for about 43% of the direct energy supply, biomass provided 37%, and coal provided 11%. Find out more here. Archived

Sri Lanka can be completely self-sufficient with domestically produced energy. The total production of all-electric energy-producing facilities is 14 bn kWh, 108% of our requirements. The remaining domestically produced energy is either exported to other countries or unused. Along with pure consumption, production, imports, and exports play an essential role. Other energy sources, such as natural gas or crude oil, are also used. Find out more, Here. Archived

How much Renewable Energy (RE) does Sri Lanka use?

Sri Lanka is the 39th greenest country in the world regarding RE share in power generation. Our country is blessed with several forms of renewable energy resources warranted by geo-climatic conditions on the island. Since we are an island located in the tropics and surrounded by the Indian Ocean, we receive rain from two monsoonal winds that are the Southwest and Northeast monsoons. The island is characterized by a central highland, lowland mountain ranges, flat terrains, and plateaus, which affect cloud formation. The annual mean rainfall ranges from 750 to 6,000 mm, which sources a perennial river system.

For more information, read here. Archived

In this article, we are mainly focused on the potential future renewable technologies, like

• Geothermal power
• Ocean power
• Offshore and wind energy

Geothermal power

Geothermal energy extracts the heat found within the surface of the earth. These are usually located close to tectonically active regions where hot water and steam are carried to the earth’s surface or can be accessed at shallow depths. Radioactive decay continuously processes on the core of the planet. As a result, the temperature there rises to more than 5000⁰C. The heat from the core constantly radiates outward and warms rocks, water, gas, and other geological materials. These are the sources of geothermal energy. Their warmth can be captured and used directly, or their steam can make energy and generate electricity.

In Sri Lanka, Geothermal Energy has been manifested as ten low enthalpy thermal springs (35 to 61 C0) along a narrow belt that runs approximately parallel to the Highland complex (HC) and Vijayan complex (VC) lithological boundary. These springs are not used for any economic purpose, while some have been used for recreational purposes. Find out more. Here. Archived

Sri Lanka has seven major known hot springs with surface outflow temperatures varying from 35- 74 ⁰C. Their source temperatures have been calculated and range from 140 – 170 ⁰C. Most Sri Lankan hot springs have lower temperatures, and some of the hot springs, like Nelumwewa and Kapurella, have much higher temperatures. Hence, they can be utilized to generate electricity. Even though other hot springs have lower temperatures, they can be used as direct geothermal energy sources, like hot water for agriculture, food drying, recreational medicinal applications, etc. Therefore, with proper studies and infrastructure developments, hot springs in Sri Lanka can be utilized as geothermal energy sources. Hot water springs in Sri Lanka are not related to volcanic activities because Sri Lanka is not situated in an active volcanic region or at an active plate boundary.

Places with Hot Springs in Sri Lanka

1 Rankihiriya

2 Kanniya

3 Nelumwewa

4 Kapurella

5 Mahaoya

6 Wahawa, Padiyathalawa

7 Mahapelessa

Read more .Link.

The areas around geothermal manifestations have a dry climate, and the significant economic activity is agriculture. It is also a popular tourist destination because of the wildlife and beach (specially Trincomalee to Hambanthota). These sectors can be benefited immensely from geothermal energy through direct utilization. The possible applications include drying agricultural products (cereal), sugar processing, paper mill operation, cold storage and recreational facilities such as warm pools, saunas, and steam baths. The geothermal manifestations have been located in Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa, Monaragala and Hambanthota districts. The area is extensively agricultural. Rice, maize, soya, peanut, sugar cane, banana, and the same Cucurbitaceae family crops have been cultivated. Rice and cereal production industries have used thermal energy for steaming and drying. A part of the energy consumption of this product can be supplied using these geothermal energy systems. Geothermal energy can therefore be used to improve the livelihood of the local communities in Sri Lanka. Most of these applications are related to agricultural, industrial, and tourism activities. The use of geothermal energy in such sectors will replace the need to utilize expensive and environmentally unfriendly fossil fuels. Such applications will be effective employment sources, leading to poverty elevation. Here. Archived

Ocean power

Ocean power energy refers to all forms of renewable energy derived from the ocean. There are mainly two types

1. Tidal power
2. Wave power

Wave power

Wave energy is a form of renewable energy that can be harnessed from the motion of the waves. The rigorous vertical movement of surface ocean waves contains a lot of kinetic (motion) energy captured by wave energy technologies to do useful tasks, for example, electricity generation, water desalinization, and water pumping into reservoirs.

The northern Indian Ocean surrounds Sri Lanka. Therefore, long-distance swell waves approaching from the southern Indian Ocean reach the west to south-east coastline of Sri Lanka all-year round. Meanwhile, the two tropical monsoon systems operating in the Indian Ocean generate highly energetic sea waves. As a result, the south and the west coasts of Sri Lanka experience the combined effect of swell and sea waves during the south-west monsoon from May to September while the north and east coasts of Sri Lanka experience energetic seas during the north-east monsoon from October to December. The consistent swell wave approach and the energetic seas generated by local wind waves make Sri Lanka an ideal location for wave energy harvesting. The west to south-east coast of Sri Lanka has the highest average wave power, due to the superposition of the long-distance swell waves approaching from the southern Indian Ocean with the local monsoonal sea waves.

Although Sri Lanka has a stable and consistent wave power resource, technical and

 environmental challenges eed to be assessed in detail. Here. Archived

In 2019, Sea wave patterns were studied using the available field data obtained from local and foreign institutes. Further, a wave characteristic model for Sri Lanka was developed and the resource potential assessment was carried out using the particular wave characteristic model. Find out more,  read.

Tidal power

Tidal energy power is produced by the surge of ocean waters during the rise and fall of tides caused by the gravitational interaction between Earth, the sun, and the moon. Tidal currents with sufficient energy for harvesting occur when water passes through a constriction, causing the water to move faster. Tidal energy is reliable and not depleting. Since the density of seawater is 800 times denser than air, the energy extraction is much favorable and reliable resource. Because of the above said advantages, tidal energy production has become an important energy source at global platform.

In February 2017, Sri Lanka has to plans a new project with Finnish assistance to generate electricity from tidal power.

The tidal condition along the Sri Lankan coast is semi diurnal. Identification of the locations for energy extraction is important as the width of the identified inlet at the coast plays an important role in energy extraction. Also, parameters like tidal range, basin area have to be taken into account in order to consider the inlet suitable for energy extraction. here The environmental impact could be severe, depending on the size of the turbine and the site of the tidal stream. Turbines are most effective in shallow water. This produces more energy and allows ships to navigate around the turbines. But any way the tidal energy resources are sustainable and non-carbon emitting efficient source. The largest facility is the Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station in South Korea. The United States has no tidal plants and only a few sites where tidal energy could be produced at a reasonable price. China, France, England, Canada, and Russia have much more potential to use this type of energy. Find out more, Here .  Archived

Offshore and wind energy

Offshore and wind power is constantly renewable and infinite energy resources, and the conversion of wind into power creates no harmful greenhouse emission. They are considered more efficient than onshore wind farms, thanks to the higher speed of winds, greater consistency and lack of physical interference that the land or human-made objects can present.

Mark Leybourne, Offshore Wind Program Lead at the World Bank, said “Sri Lanka has an offshore wind resource that far exceeds its energy demand and it could help to meet the country’s target of 70% RE by 2030. It could also aid the country’s economic recovery by displacing costly fuel imports” in social media post on November 2022.

The work has now gotten more specific as the World Bank, together with industry partners and partners from Sri Lanka, is zooming in on the country’s potential for the first projects, from offshore wind resource to policy and supply chain. The area that would accommodate Sri Lanka’s demonstration or first project is a site to the north-east in the Gulf of Mannar, where a 252 MW project could be built, assuming the wind turbines to be used would each have 12 MW of capacity.This area is to the north of the Port of Colombo, one of the two ports the World Bank considers would need the least amount of significant upgrades to support offshore wind development.

Sri Lanka’s offshore wind resource far exceeds the South Asian nation’s energy demand, and its development could help the country’s economic recovery by displacing costly fuel imports, according to the World Bank. The World Bank has completed a draft offshore wind development roadmap for Sri Lanka designed to evaluate the potential opportunities. There is an estimated fixed-bottom potential of 22GW and 17GW floating. The resource is based on areas without environmental restrictions and exclusion zones. Here. Archived

Sri Lanka already has onshore wind plants in the Northwestern and Northern parts of country. Also plans to start more new plants in Mannar and Pooneryn areas which will be done by Adani group. It is estimated that there is nearly 5000 square kilometer of wind area in the West Coast, Mannar, North West Central High- land, South East and North Eastern areas with good-to- excellent wind resource potential in Sri Lanka. Monsoonal winds could be harnessed throughout the year. Potential of all promising wind sites in Sri Lanka is about 25,000MW. The first commercial grid- connected wind farm is the 3MW Hambantota Wind Farm.

However, there are several risks involved. Read our article on “Are Offshore Wind Turbine Projects leading to Whale deaths?”

Why Sri Lanka need Renewable energy

As an island nation, Sri Lanka is particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels caused by climate change. Sri Lanka is one of 43 countries in the Climate Vulnerable Forum, the members of which are committed to reaching 100% renewable energy generation by 2050 at the latest. renewable energy technology adaptation for power generation has increased across developed and emerging economies throughout the past decades and is expected to grow in the foreseeable future. Renewable energy is used for electricity generation, transportation, heating/cooling and off-grid energy services replacing fossil fuels. As of 2020, renewable energy provided an estimated 29% of global final energy consumption. The rapid growth of renewable energy is mainly due to energy security, climate change mitigation, and resource availability. In addition, public opinion has changed in favor of renewable energy in the past decades, with scientific literature supporting fossil fuel-induced global warming. So Sri Lanka also needs to focus on renewable energy, which is essential for the future.

-With Inputs from Dinesh Balasri –