Exploit freely available Solar power via ‘Roof tops’ before calling tenders for large scale Solar Power projects on Land/ Water bodies. – By Bernard Fernando.

Exploit freely available Solar power via ‘Roof tops’ before calling tenders for large scale Solar Power projects on Land/ Water bodies. – By Bernard Fernando.

It is reported in the Press that the controversial large scale ‘Adani green energy project’(Wind and Solar) has been cancelled inter alia due to unreasonably high tariff rates, pre-operational costs such as for research, site investigations, feasibility studies, and environmental assessments etc. compounded by procedural breaches and sustainability concerns. In the same vein, it is reported that the authorities are poised to go for a new tender, avoiding so called pitfalls of ‘Adani Project’.

Against this challenging backdrop, the writer opines that we should first pluck the ubiquitous ‘Lower hanging fruits’ found in more permanent, amply available ‘Solar energy’ which can be tapped by Solar Panels installed on freely available space of a readymade ‘Roof top’ infrastructure. Additionally, since the investors themselves will very likely be present at the sites, as owners of Factories/Enterprises /Houses, they will closely monitor the proper maintenance and security of the system. Thus, ‘Roof top Solar’ would be more attractive to the investor compared to the high cost of gigantic and specialised  ‘wind power ‘ infrastructure installation and maintenance costs. Moreover, compared to the aforesaid high pre-operational costs and other environmental and procedural concerns revealed in the cancelled ‘Adani Wind and Land based Solar power Projects’, the Roof top Solar Projects are devoid of such costly and worrisome tasks. Of course, the unit cost/ price which serve as the bottom line for the Prosumers (Producers and Consumers) will reflect the impact of all variables in a nut shell.

Proposals to exploit low-cost ‘Roof top solar power’ potential

The prosumers are very anxious about the fluctuating prices of essential power/Energy sources which are critical for the livelihood and functioning of an ordinary family/Enterprise in a small country like Sri Lanka.

As a consumer interested in seeing a reasonable price for power usage, the writer is pleased to enlist the following proposals to facilitate the decision making process of the Govt. and the concerned authorities in regard to above.

1. As far as possible, require all power consuming Factories, Industries, Hotels, Hospitals, Cinema Halls, Schools, Religious places and other building owners etc. having large Roof tops to install Solar Panels with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) that can make them self-sufficient in Electricity needs while qualifying  for a higher incentive rate for peak time exports. To further catalyse the process, appropriate incentives such as duty and VAT concessions should be granted to suppliers of Solar Panels and other required items within a specified time period. 
2. Offer similar incentives to House owners across the country.

According to Jeremy Fernando (Innovator and Patent holder for Energy Storage Systems (ESS), currently engaged as a freelance Consultant on ESS), Sri Lanka has more than 06 Mln. households and if 05 KWh systems are installed on additional 400,000 (6.66%) House roof tops, 2,000 MWh can be generated making each of them self- sufficient.

3. Since the investors will be ‘Roof Top’ owners from Corporate, Small and Medium Enterprise sectors and the general public, the Banking system should chip-in with concessionary loan facilities perhaps under a special Loan scheme refinanced by the Central Bank as done before as a gesture of National duty and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Key Benefits

1. The Unit cost/Price of Electricity will come down.
2. Cost of electricity will become affordable to consumers including Small and Medium Enterprises.
3. With large roof-top owners possessing BESS as mentioned in 1 above, becoming self –sufficient and exporting their excess power to the grid during peak hours, it will enable optimum usage of Solar power and save controllable Hydro power for Rainy/ cloudy  days and meet  peak power requirements.
4. The gradual ‘spin-off’ reduction in usage of fossil fuel with high carbon foot print will improve green environment while saving the foreign exchange requirement for BESS and Solar Panels, not forgetting the looming need for high National loan repayments from the year 2028 onwards. 
5. The Country can dispense with foreign borrowings under high cost projects for risky land and water mounted systems posing several dangers in terms of environmental impact on Fauna and flora, Natural disasters, Day and Night Supervision, ambience and the much needed space for a small Island country like Sri Lanka with high potential for tourism and aquatic ventures.
6. Moreover, the element of possible withdrawal by foreign counterparts after recovering their investment will not arise.

Concluding note

The writer is confident that the new Govt. will respond positively and promote the use of at least 10% of more than 06 Million ‘Roof Tops’ in the country to generate the much cheaper and ‘Clean Solar Energy’ with an aggressive promotional campaign under its very appropriate ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ project.

Bernard Fernando,

Moratuwa.

Email:  fernadobernard81@gmail.com