Imported sustainability: Rethinking Sri Lanka’s paradoxical wind energy ambitions

I seriously doubt Sri Lanka has ever missed embracing any “lofty international goal” in its policy documents. The energy policies are no exception. The Sri Lanka National Energy Policy and Strategies of 2019 might be the most internationally aligned energy policy the country has ever had, endorsing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Carbon Neutrality by 2050.

- By Nalaka Samaraweera

This nicely written document aims to ensure clean and affordable energy, specifically following Goal 7 of the SDGs. Moreover, it claims to be founded on 10 pillars to achieve a balance in the so-called Energy Trilemma: energy security, environmental sustainability, and energy equity. I do not think anyone could imagine any missing aspect within those 10 pillars for achieving this delicate balance. And of course, the policy document lays out its implementation strategies and the results delivery framework brilliantly, and again, it is hard to imagine if anyone could spot a gap there.

Complying with the aforementioned document, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), as the premier electricity utility in the country, recently introduced its Long-Term Generation Expansion Plan for the period 2025-2044. This plan has been routinely prepared by the CEB every two years, covering a 20-year horizon. Keeping Carbon Neutrality by 2050 as the prime target, the report proposes the “aggressive development” of the renewable energy sector. According to the report, approximately 2.6 GW of wind power and nearly 9 GW of solar power will be added to the grid to maintain a 70% renewable energy share in meeting demand by 2044. This addition is undoubtedly both highly ambitious and unprecedented. As part of the Energy Policy, this “extraordinary move” certainly demonstrates our strong commitment to align with international goals.

The dilemma in the trilemma:

Concerning the balance