Wind power projects in Sri Lanka (Photo source: Fairway Holdings)
In Sri Lanka, a large wind power farm, 20km long, is planned to be constructed. In our term, wind power generators are lining up in a row one for the distance equal to Yeouido from Jamsil, Seoul.
According KOTRA Global Window, recently in a Cabinet Council meeting, Sri Lanka has approved the construction proposal to build 20km long wind power farm along the coastline in Mannar region. With funds supported from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Sri Lankan government plans to replace the existing 22kV transmission and distribution line facilities to 220kV for the creation of wind power farm. Afterward, as the first stage of the project, 100MW farm will be constructed initially, and then they plan to review the expansion into 500MW farm.
The Sri Lankan government is expecting that there will be no noise complaints by the people because not many people live in the coastal area of Mannar due its dry weather and salty land. The wind speed is satisfactory and there is 220kV transmission line in nearby Kalpitiya region 40km away. Since the Port of Colombo is nearby, it is considered as the most optimal place for the transmission and distribution.
On the other hand, the Sri Lankan government expects difficulty in transporting large wind power towers. A tower generating over 2MW is the general trend; however, the land and sea conditions are inadequate for transporting such tower. The situation is that when passing through a town during overland transportation, detouring road constructions are needed. For oversea transportation, the underwater depth is shallow near the coastline around the wind power farm so that it is difficult for a transport to approach. Lastly, the docking facility in the harbor is inadequate.
Some people are raising a point that the hybrid type which runs solar photovoltaic power generation in parallel with wind power generation is more efficient.
A person from the Sri Lankan government stated, “Transporting 0.85~1.2MW class tower over the land will be possible. And, the companies are favoring a wind power generation project using 0.85~1.2MW class towers.”
He forecasted, “The biding competition for 10~30MW class will be fierce between Sri Lankan and Indian companies that have prior governmental project experience.
Source: energy.Korea.com
