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Energy alternatives in Sri Lanka
Enrrv Peed
Vol. 8. 50 3. p. 35. 1983 in Great ham.
NOTE ENERGY ALTERNATIVES
IN SRI LANKA
T. B. PERAMUNETILLEKE 9/1SANalandaramaRoad,Nugegoda,Sri Lanka (Received
14June 1982)
Abstract-Energy needs and programsare discussedfor Sri Lanka in the light of escalatingenergy costs. DISCUSSION
The energy needs of Sri Lanka have been largely met by petroleum products. About 34% of investments in the government programme for 1981to 1985 are in the’energy sector. The cost of energy imports during this S-year period is estimated to be $3.5 billion. The commercial sources of energy in Sri Lanka are oil, electricity, and relatively small quantities of coal. The latter has recently been slowly phased out. In terms of total energy, the consumption in 1979 has been estimated at 3.5 million tonnes of oil equivalent. Of this, 60% came from petroleum products and 13% from hydroelectricity. In 1980, hydroelectric plants generated 1666GWh, while the peak demand was 368.5 MW. Electricity needs of industry have increased by 8% during 1980. About two-thirds of the non-renewable energy is supplied by fuel-wood while a third comes from agricultural residues; these fuels, including bagasse, are also used in small industries. The production of fuel-wood has involved illicit felling of forests. Total consumption has amounted to 5 X lo6 mt of fuel-wood and agricultural residues. In 1980, petroleum products required about 36% of total export earnings. The transport sector consumed 50% of the imported oil. Favourable experiments have been performed with biogas and fertilizer production by recycling animal, agricultural and municipal wastes. More than 300 biogas generators have been installed in Sri Lanka. Experiments with windmills have been encouraged but the capital costs for rural use are prohibitively high. As a model for Asia and Africa, in the south of Sri Lanka at Pattiyapola, a UNEP-sponsored centre has been set up for the utilisation of alternative energy sources. Here, wind generators have a rated capacity of 2 kW, at a wind speed of 35 mph. Also, a solar energy project has been designed to produce 4 x IO’kW,h (it does not include photovoltaic devices). There are about 50 x lo6 mt of peat bog situated about 10 km from Colombo on 2,200 acres. In 1968, a Russian team examined about 460 hectares with a peat bed 2.1 m thick and containing less than 30% ash. They estimated the recoverable resource at 3 x lo6 mt. OTEC has also been considered in Sri Lanka. Ocean temperature gradients at Trincomalee are favourable and this project may be developed in cooperation with India.
245
Vol. 8. 50 3. p. 35. 1983 in Great ham.
NOTE ENERGY ALTERNATIVES
IN SRI LANKA
T. B. PERAMUNETILLEKE 9/1SANalandaramaRoad,Nugegoda,Sri Lanka (Received
14June 1982)
Abstract-Energy needs and programsare discussedfor Sri Lanka in the light of escalatingenergy costs. DISCUSSION
The energy needs of Sri Lanka have been largely met by petroleum products. About 34% of investments in the government programme for 1981to 1985 are in the’energy sector. The cost of energy imports during this S-year period is estimated to be $3.5 billion. The commercial sources of energy in Sri Lanka are oil, electricity, and relatively small quantities of coal. The latter has recently been slowly phased out. In terms of total energy, the consumption in 1979 has been estimated at 3.5 million tonnes of oil equivalent. Of this, 60% came from petroleum products and 13% from hydroelectricity. In 1980, hydroelectric plants generated 1666GWh, while the peak demand was 368.5 MW. Electricity needs of industry have increased by 8% during 1980. About two-thirds of the non-renewable energy is supplied by fuel-wood while a third comes from agricultural residues; these fuels, including bagasse, are also used in small industries. The production of fuel-wood has involved illicit felling of forests. Total consumption has amounted to 5 X lo6 mt of fuel-wood and agricultural residues. In 1980, petroleum products required about 36% of total export earnings. The transport sector consumed 50% of the imported oil. Favourable experiments have been performed with biogas and fertilizer production by recycling animal, agricultural and municipal wastes. More than 300 biogas generators have been installed in Sri Lanka. Experiments with windmills have been encouraged but the capital costs for rural use are prohibitively high. As a model for Asia and Africa, in the south of Sri Lanka at Pattiyapola, a UNEP-sponsored centre has been set up for the utilisation of alternative energy sources. Here, wind generators have a rated capacity of 2 kW, at a wind speed of 35 mph. Also, a solar energy project has been designed to produce 4 x IO’kW,h (it does not include photovoltaic devices). There are about 50 x lo6 mt of peat bog situated about 10 km from Colombo on 2,200 acres. In 1968, a Russian team examined about 460 hectares with a peat bed 2.1 m thick and containing less than 30% ash. They estimated the recoverable resource at 3 x lo6 mt. OTEC has also been considered in Sri Lanka. Ocean temperature gradients at Trincomalee are favourable and this project may be developed in cooperation with India.
245