Post by NoCoal on May 24, 2016 20:39:57 GMT 5.5
Present installed capacity of the national grid of over 4000 MW is significantly higher than the maximum demand, which has been met comfortably by the CEB. Therefore the efforts should be to flatten this peak to avoid the need to install any more power plants just to meet the demand during this short period daily.
Thus the proposals to install any more coal power plants under the present circumstances would be laughable if not for the tragic consequences such a move would impose on the country.
While there are many renewable energy plants by the private developers that have been approved and should come on line shortly, the CEB itself is planning to install 100 MW of wind power in Mannar Island which is a step in the right direction. All these would add muscle to the National Grid instead of bringing in any more coal power plants. In addition, recent developments have provided a most attractive means by which the peak demand can be managed, with much benefits to the Country as well as to CEB. The net metering system introduced several years ago has had the salutary effect of making roof top solar power installations financially viable as well as building up the confidence of a diverse group of consumers to adopt solar power.
At present over 1000 such installations have been commissioned with 9 MW of cumulative capacity and the demand is growing. While this trend may not be found very attractive to the CEB due to the fact that it is the high end consumers who install these units, a recent development has opened a new avenue by which the interest on roof top solar can be converted to a win – win situation. That is the introduction of the “Power Wall” battery storage system by Tesla Motors of USA. While there are many other manufacturers in the market with perhaps even cheaper options, the entry in to the market by this highly recognized company who manufacturers the Tesla Electric Car , reported as the world’s best motor car, would create a quantum jump in the acceptation of solar and wind power storage. This will iron out for good, the often repeated lament by the utilities over world, that solar and wind power are not firm and therefore cannot be depended upon as a major component in the energy mix for a national grid.
I understand that even those with a monthly consumption of 180 kWh could find a solar PV system with such storage economically viable. Tesla has predicted that with the commissioning of their Mega Factory the prices of the battery system could drop by 50%.
- Thus if we can encourage the installation of such systems by the high end customers with the provision to get off the grid during the peak hours using the battery storage, they would be making a great contribution to the CEB and the nation.
- The proposal to introduce the Time of Day metering system for the house hold sector would make this option even more attractive to such customers.
- There are 997,000 ( 2012 Statistics) domestic consumers with monthly consumption exceeding 90 kWh. If even 50% of these consumers are encouraged to join the above scheme, the peak load can be reduced by 1.525 GWh or 500 MW, equivalent to Sampur Coal Power plant.
- The annual saving of foreign exchange for import of coal is $ 22.26 Million annually at current prices , being 0.4% of the import bill for fossil fuels.
Thus the problem could be solved with absolutely no burden on the CEB or the treasury and in a most environmentally friendly manner. While this change would not happen overnight, the present and emerging trends in the technology and cost of Rooftop Solar Industry and the battery storage, augur well for the success of such a move, if we have the vision to embark on it without further delay. The spin off benefits by maximizing the local inputs in way of employment generation in the technical fields and build up of relevant expertise are added advantages.
Read More: www.bioenergysrilanka.lk/content/do-we-need-sampur-coal-power-plant
Thus the proposals to install any more coal power plants under the present circumstances would be laughable if not for the tragic consequences such a move would impose on the country.
While there are many renewable energy plants by the private developers that have been approved and should come on line shortly, the CEB itself is planning to install 100 MW of wind power in Mannar Island which is a step in the right direction. All these would add muscle to the National Grid instead of bringing in any more coal power plants. In addition, recent developments have provided a most attractive means by which the peak demand can be managed, with much benefits to the Country as well as to CEB. The net metering system introduced several years ago has had the salutary effect of making roof top solar power installations financially viable as well as building up the confidence of a diverse group of consumers to adopt solar power.
At present over 1000 such installations have been commissioned with 9 MW of cumulative capacity and the demand is growing. While this trend may not be found very attractive to the CEB due to the fact that it is the high end consumers who install these units, a recent development has opened a new avenue by which the interest on roof top solar can be converted to a win – win situation. That is the introduction of the “Power Wall” battery storage system by Tesla Motors of USA. While there are many other manufacturers in the market with perhaps even cheaper options, the entry in to the market by this highly recognized company who manufacturers the Tesla Electric Car , reported as the world’s best motor car, would create a quantum jump in the acceptation of solar and wind power storage. This will iron out for good, the often repeated lament by the utilities over world, that solar and wind power are not firm and therefore cannot be depended upon as a major component in the energy mix for a national grid.
I understand that even those with a monthly consumption of 180 kWh could find a solar PV system with such storage economically viable. Tesla has predicted that with the commissioning of their Mega Factory the prices of the battery system could drop by 50%.
- Thus if we can encourage the installation of such systems by the high end customers with the provision to get off the grid during the peak hours using the battery storage, they would be making a great contribution to the CEB and the nation.
- The proposal to introduce the Time of Day metering system for the house hold sector would make this option even more attractive to such customers.
- There are 997,000 ( 2012 Statistics) domestic consumers with monthly consumption exceeding 90 kWh. If even 50% of these consumers are encouraged to join the above scheme, the peak load can be reduced by 1.525 GWh or 500 MW, equivalent to Sampur Coal Power plant.
- The annual saving of foreign exchange for import of coal is $ 22.26 Million annually at current prices , being 0.4% of the import bill for fossil fuels.
Thus the problem could be solved with absolutely no burden on the CEB or the treasury and in a most environmentally friendly manner. While this change would not happen overnight, the present and emerging trends in the technology and cost of Rooftop Solar Industry and the battery storage, augur well for the success of such a move, if we have the vision to embark on it without further delay. The spin off benefits by maximizing the local inputs in way of employment generation in the technical fields and build up of relevant expertise are added advantages.
Read More: www.bioenergysrilanka.lk/content/do-we-need-sampur-coal-power-plant