From water to Watts SL pumped up for solar power
The Government is exploring the possibility of converting the Victoria reservoir into a hydropower storage facility, designing two new hydro pump facilities in the Central Province, and encouraging independent power producers (IPPs) to install battery storage capacities to combat grid-stability issues.
Solar sector officials told The Sunday Times Business that the Victoria reservoir is a likely candidate to be converted into a pumped storage tank. It currently runs on a 210 megawatt (MW) capacity but has a total capacity of 420 MW. Sri Lanka is currently producing more intermittent solar energy than the country can accommodate at a reasonable cost, which has automatically led the government to go for storage solutions.
Mawanella and Nuwara Eliya are tentatively earmarked as areas to build a tank to collect downstream water and generate power during peak hours, officials added. They said preliminary work in this regard has started and the intention is to build two tanks in the longer term. The Asian Development Bank is doing feasibility studies for these two tanks, they said. A reservoir system uses water to generate energy during peak hours, pumping it back with solar power during the day and hydropower at night. This system combines battery storage, pumped storage, and other solutions to address the evening peak, ensuring energy availability during the peak hours.
Power and Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody emphasised the necessity of storage for India’s clean energy transition, despite acknowledging the ongoing economic recovery as a cost hurdle. Speaking at the recent 7th International Solar Alliance (ISA) Regional Committee Meeting for Asia and the Pacific, held in Colombo, he said: “The solution to this problem is either battery storage or hydro storage. But considering our economic situation, that is not cheap,” He noted that the 600 MW pump storage is in the works and the Ceylon Electricity Board is planning to open a tender for a 100 MW battery storage system.
Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, addressing the meeting, announced the establishment of a Centre at the University of Moratuwa for solar power training and research.
Hitad.lk has you covered with quality used or brand new cars for sale that are budget friendly yet reliable! Now is the time to sell your old ride for something more attractive to today's modern automotive market demands. Browse through our selection of affordable options now on Hitad.lk before deciding on what will work best for you!