A rapid renewable energy generation plan will go into effect on June 1st, 2022.
According to the Ministry of Energy, a rapid renewable energy generation plan will go into effect on June 1st, 2022.
Minister Kanchana Wijesekera stated that the monthly fuel bill for power generation has surpassed USD $100 million.
He went on to say that the average cost per unit generation has risen to Rs 48.
Minister Wijesekera has therefore proposed the following two short-term solutions to the problem:
• Convert roof space available for rooftop solar in industries, government, hospitals, hotels, and other locations. With proposed tariff rate changes, the current electricity bill will triple in the majority of the aforementioned sectors. They can invest the current electricity bill amount in solar panels, which will be paid to solar companies on a monthly basis, reducing the burden on their institutes as well as the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) grid. To reduce generation costs, the CEB can manage the hydro and thermal power plants during the night.
• Provisional approvals will be granted immediately for proposed projects, with reasonable rate revisions. Following approval, collaborate with the CEB, the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA), and the investor to improve transmission lines and grid capacity, with the required investment coming from the project investor. This will shorten the project’s timeline.
Minister Kanchana Wijesekera also stated that large-scale investments in selected renewable projects will be accommodated later, after technical and financial evaluation.
