Wind power development in Sri Lanka date back to mid-1990’s where the first grid connected project was implemented by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), in Hambantota. This project continues to operate till mid-2018, with a capacity of 3 MW.
The Government opened wind power development for the private sector along with the small hydro power initiative, based on the tariffs formulated on avoided cost principles. However, none of the private wind power projects took off the ground, as the avoided cost tariffs on offer made all wind projects financially unavailable.
Later still, the satellite-based survey of wind resources in the country carried out by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) of the United States of America revealed that Sri Lanka possess developable wind resources capable of generating 25,000 MW of power. This same study stated that there are around 2,500 MW of good quality wind resources located in developable areas. However, these figures need to be looked at from the perspective of national electricity demand, which is peaking toady at a mere 2,600 MW. Accordingly, without any meaningful steps taken in energy storage, the extensive wind resources available to this country may not be utilised in significant volumes well into the foreseeable future. However, wind energy will play a crucial role in meeting the policy targets set for new renewable energy resources in the National Energy Policy and Strategies of Sri Lanka. As explained briefly in the background, Sri Lanka is blessed with a very good wind resource. This is indicated in the Wind Energy Resource Atlas of Sri Lanka and the Maldives produced by the NREL. This effort reinforced the ground measurement programme of the CEB and encouraged us to undertake an all island ground measurement programme to quantify the wind resources available in the country. As a result of these efforts, 128 MW of wind power projects were commissioned mainly in the Puttalam region.
Geothermal heating / cooling using the ground as the source of heat / coolness. This is no way related to volcanic geothermal heat, just the heat below maybe 5 ft / 2m from surface (basically below the frost level, if your area freezes in the winter, like in North America).
Upon completion, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will be the largest single-site solar park in the world, based on an independent power producer, IPP, model. It has a planned capacity of 5,000 MW in 2030 with investments of Dh50 billion. The 800MW third phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will be operational in April 2020.
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