MOUNTING UNCERTAINTIES PUT RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR IN A SPIN

Sri Lanka's energy sector is at a critical juncture due to the growing friction between conventional and non-conventional energy sectors. While the world is moving away from fossil fuels, coal and is looking at depending on renewable energy, Sri Lanka is challenged by various obstacles. Despite submitting an elaborate energy policy with ambitious targets, the incumbent government is yet to take some proactive and practical decisions to strengthen the renewable energy sector. In this backdrop, renewable energy experts have expressed their frustration regarding policy inconsistencies, bureaucratic hurdles and infrastructure-related inconsistencies that would threaten the future of the renewable energy sector in Sri Lanka.

- By Kamanthi Wickramasinghe

Contradictions in govt.'s energy policy Vs. NPP Policy

By 2030, the government aims to fulfill 70% of the energy requirement through renewable energy in addition to bringing all energy requirements to net zero level by 2050. The NPP’s energy policy mentions the launch of a rapid national programme to add 2000 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity as a strategic measure to avert the impending energy crisis in the near future. The policy pledges to strengthen efforts to achieve net zero emissions while promoting rooftop solar PV behind-the-metre battery storage systems by introducing new business models and tariff structures aiming at reducing the overall cost of energy generation.

In this backdrop, renewable energy advocates have raised concerns as to whether the government is actually walking the talk. Speaking at a recent media briefing, renewable energy specialist Dr. Vidura Ralapanawe said that those who promised to add 2000MW from rooftop solar PV have made it impractical due to two reasons. “One reason is that there are over 700 companies that are involved in installing rooftop solar panels. If they leave the industry there is nobody to continue service contracts in companies and households that have already installed rooftop solar panels. On the other hand, more youth and women are employed in companies that deal with rooftop solar panels and many of these companies are local SMEs. In the event that they cease operations, this void would be filled by mega scale companies or fossil fuel companies,” said Ralapanawe.