Mr. Panditharathne has passed out from University of Peradeniya as Mechanical Engineer in 1985 and he is having over 25years of experience in the field of Power and Energy. He is an experienced engineer in Ceylon Electricity Board and has served in several projects and power plants for the betterment of CEB and the country. Further, He is an active member of Institution of Engineering & Technology and Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka. Mr. Panditharatne has worked as a Project Manager of the Coal power project during last few years and has vast experience on coal power plant. He has actively participated at the execution of the project and has contributed lot to make the dream of coal power to become true 9 months prior to the schedule. Now Mr. Panditharatne is the Deputy General Manager of Norochcholai Coal Power Plant of Ceylon electricity Board.

Why did coal power caught attention of Sri Lanka?

Power generation in Sri Lanka until recently heavily relied on hydro power. With the escalating demand for electricity, bigger component of total power generation had to come from thermal energy because hydro power was running at its full potential. Thus, hydro power and thermal have switched their roles while their contribution as of now roughly adds to 40% and 60%. Average cost for a unit of hydro electricity costs approximately 3.50LKR while thermal costs 10.50LKR. Therefore, a low cost method of producing electricity has to be introduced. This is where coal comes in. Coal is widely available and cheap compared to sources of other forms of thermal electricity generation. Sixty percent of energy demand of USA is sufficed by coal power plants while our neighbour – India – produces 68% of the energy demand from coal power plants. In addition to this, coal reserves in the world are predicted to last 100 years or more. The technology has been around for a while and does not involve the huge risks as in nuclear power generation.

What parties were involved in funding the project and the construction activities?

The plant is situated in the village of Narakkalliya, 12km off the Palavi junction on the Colombo – Puttlam main road. Main contractor of the project is China National Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Corporation (CMEC), a semi government company of PRC. The project is carried out in the form of Design – Build – Transfer basis and the costs have been estimated at 455 billion USD. Poyry Energy Ltd of Switzerland acts as consultants for the project. Construction initiated in 2007 after having the inception stone laid in May 2006 by the President.

Plant lifetime is designed to be a minimum of 30 years and will cater for the based load. Availability is anticipated above 85%.

How does coal handling take place from the delivery to combustion?

Only high quality low sulphur bituminous coal is used as the fuel for economic and environmental standards and the supplies will be received from the countries such as Indonesia. Requirement of coal to generate 300MW will be 140 tons per hour.

Transportation and Unloading of Coal

Coal delivered will be unloaded to the barges at mid-sea, which then reaches storage facility of the site on conveyors stating near the shore jetty. The plant owns three barges – each capable of carrying 5000MT – and two tugs. Conveyor belt is capable of carrying 1500MT per hour. Samples of coal are taken from the load before sent to storage facility.

Can you briefly explain the operation of the plant?

The coal used in combustion will be first crushed to the size of 2.5mm and then ground until it becomes a powder by a pulveriser, before entering the 63-m boiler (sub-critical pressure, once reheat, natural circulation, single-drum, semi-out door, tangential firing, balanced draft, type) where the steam pressure will build up to 173 bars and temperature is 541°C. To minimize the impact on environment, the boiler incorporates “Low NOx burners.” We were also told that reduction of NOx could be realized through regulating the furnace temperature. In order to arrest, suspended particulate matter (fly ash) electrostatic precipitators are used.

What is the electrical output of the plant? Where is the electricity transmitted?

The project consists of three stages (300MW×3) and stage 1 is currently operational. Construction of stage 2 (600MW) is now under way. Once completed, the entire site will cover 92 hectares (242 acres). Each 300MW generator is expected to generate 2200 million units of electricity per year. Generating voltage is 20kv and for transmission, this will be stepped up to 220kV. The generators used are two – pole, cylindrical rotor type synchronous machines. Each has a closed circuit hydrogen cooling system to cool the stator core and rotor, including direct hydrogen cooling of field winding. Output of stage 1 will be transmitted via a 155km double circuit line to Veyangoda Grid Substation. Once stage 2 is completed, it will be connected to Anuradhapura Grid Substation. However, an additional intermediate switching station will be required at Chilaw for this purpose.

Obviously, there are going to be environmental concerns involved in coal power generation. What remedial measures have been taken to avoid those?

As mentioned above, Electrostatic Precipitators are used to remove the particulate matter in the flue gas. once the flue gas pass though a set of charged place electrostatically charged ash particles get attracted to the side plates and finally get collected at the bottom ESP.What it does is, subject the exhaust gas to a strong electric field and charges them. Afterwards, the charged particles can be attracted and extracted by charged plates in the system. Efficiency of the ESP system used in the plant is 99.8%.

Gas coming out from the ESP then is treated for sulphur content in the Flue Gas De-sulphurization Plant (FGD). Inside, the flue gas is allowed to move vertically while a strong ocean water spray is aimed at it. Sulphur Dioxide in exhaust gas will be absorbed by this method with an efficiency of 99%. After these two purification plants, final exhaust gas dispersed to the environment conforms to the environmental regulations.

Ash collected in the ESP is sold to cement manufactures that use it as a raw material in their industry. Leftover in the boiler bottom area, which is referred to as bottom ash, can be used to make bricks.

Lakwijaya Power Plant has a desalination unit to meet the plant's entire requirement of water. Also seawater is used to cool the steam in the condenser of the turbine plant. For this purpose is pumping to the condenser at a rate of 17.5 cubic meters per second and after condenser heat it is again discharge to the sea while maintaining a seven degree temperature difference between the seawater inlet and outlet . In this power plant ground water is not used in any form.

How did the plant affect dwellers in the area? What actions were taken to in resettling aspects and developing the suburbs?

Plant site spreads over 9928 hectares. Eighty families had to be resettled and relocated at Dalduwa – about 14 kilometres from the project site. Each family unit was provided, furnished house constructed on 20 perch land and additional 2-acre plot of land per family to carry agricultural activities. Overall, quality of life of the resettled people improved from the previous status. On our visit to the plant, we noticed that the road network near the project has improved, especially the Palavi – Kalpitiya road and the access road from Narakkalliya junction. Moreover, CEB statistics state that the plant generated over 300 direct and indirect job opportunities. We are lucky to have this kind of a new energy technology in Sri Lanka to meet the future energy demand on country without depending on the either related hydro resources and the diesel plants.

(This is my personal view point about the Renewable Energy and the above mentioned people were just attended to the event this article published. There is no relation in between those personalities and this article.)

Renewable Energy at Any Cost?

“The Government will endeavor to reach a minimum level of 10% of electrical energy supplied to the grid tobe from NRE by a process of facilitation including access to green funding such as CDM. The target year toreach this level of NRE penetration is 2015.”

As environment lovers you and I all like this statement which I have extracted from the government extraordinary gazette that has been published under the Ministry of Power and Energy as National Energy Policy and Strategies of Sri Lanka.

What if we are able to achieve the target of 10% by 2015?

If we analyze the back ground of this scope, since from the beginning, the large hydro power plants were built by the aid of soft loans, which result the lower energy generation costs. These benefits are directly passed on to the consumers so that we were lucky enough to consume electricity for lower price in the region. Just seventeen years ago, in 1995the 95% of electricity generation was contributed by the hydro power plants. Dominance of hydropower changed dramatically from 1996 onwards. This share was rapidly declined and crossed the 50% within just five years causing oil dominated power generation and high electricity tariff in the region.

Since 1997, the ESD project and RERED project have provided concessionary financing to the private sector to develop small power plants. Non-conventional Renewable Energy (NCRE) – based electricity from power plants less than 10 MW, have been priced at avoided cost tariff (ACT). The avoided cost is the cost the utility (CEB) would have incurred had it supplied the power itself or obtained it from another source. The calculation was based on the mix of marginal generators that would reduce their output, when these small power plants provide electricity to the grid. So that, there was no any significant impact on the electricity production costs of CEB because of this new small power plants. But, at that time, these avoided cost prices are dominated by the oil prices because of the oil dominated power generation in Sri Lanka. So that mini hydro power plants were the only viable solution in NCRE generation. Because of this we were unable to see any other types of NCRE plant like Wind, Solar or Bio mass in the country.

After the announcement of new Small Power Purchas Agreements (SPPA)by the new regulatory agency (Sustainable Energy Authority) in 2007, which are in operation since 2008, Sri Lankan has accelerated the development of renewable energy with a high growth rate. As a result of this, we were able to witness the first ever economically feasible wind plants in west coast with total capacity of 30MW. Now the wind power industry has become a profitable industry which is very popular among the inverters. This enthusiasm made another couple of proposed plants in Jaffna peninsula

Now it is obvious that the new tariff is providing significantly high returns to the NCRE investors compared with the ACT, which was on acting till 2008. This new tariff has several pluses from the investor’s point of view. Unlike ACT, these price changes are designed to make all kind of NCRE proposals profitable. It is cost reflective while it changes from technology to technology with three tire tariff structure. Specially, during the first tire, during first eight years, the tariff is very high compared to the ACT. This is to recover the loans and other investor’s capital requirements. So that this will impose an additional burden on the CEB, and most importantly, the society.

That implies, the development of renewable in Sri Lanka is not economically sound from the consumer point of view for near future. Then it is obvious that if we are on the way to achieve the 10% target by 2015, the more burdens will be on consumers. This means, present pricing offered to NCRE should be revised. Or we can just reduce the share of the NCRE and keep moving with fossil fuel such as coal and diesel until Sri Lankan economy becomes more stable. Intention of this article is to open our mind.

Are we on right track?

An Interview with the SLEMA(Sri Lanka Energy Managers Association))

Mr. Ananda Piyatilake obtained the BSc Eng Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Peradeniya in 1987. Mr Piyatilake obtained MBA Degree from the Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura in 2003. After the graduation in 1987, he joined Lanka Electricity Company as a Design Engineer. After his two and a half year service at LECO, he joined CEB as an Electrical Engineer. He started in the Contracts and Supplies Branch and then during his 22 years in CEB, he served in the Meter Laboratory, Laxapana Generating Stations, Alternative Energy Development Unit and as the Electrical Engineer in charge of Gampaha and Ratmalana Areas in the Distribution Division. Currently he is working as the Project Manager-Distribution for the Colombo City Electricity Distribution Development Project. He has partaken in many overseas seminars, technical conferences and training programs. Apart from his employment, currently he is serving as the president of the Sri Lanka Energy Managers Association (SLEMA). The following is an interview with him about the SLEMA and its current status. (Please note that this interview was held in October 2010 and due to unavoidable circumstances publishing had to be postponed)

1) What are the main objectives of SLEMA?

Mainly SLEMA is for the promotion of energy conservation and rational use of energy. That is the objective of formation of SLEMA.

2) Is SLEMA a government organization?

Despite the general belief, SLEMA is not a state organization. SLEMA was formed consequent to the first energy audit training course conducted in Sri Lanka by an American firm. The professionals who followed the training course felt the urge to continue the activities of energy auditing and conservation and formed SLEMA. Prof. Mohan Munasinghe is considered to be the father of SLEMA and indeed was the first President of this organization. More than a non-governmental organization, SLEMA operates like a professional body managed by energy professionals who have offered to work voluntarily.

3) The SLEMA has been collaborating with the ECF in conducting organized scientific industrial training courses. What is present state of that?

The Energy Conservation Fund was formed by the government under the Ministry of Power and Energy. It was years after SLEMA was formed and may be as a result of the good work carried out by SLEMA. There onwards SLEMA and ECF had close coordination. Later on ECF evolved in to the Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA) with more statutory power, authority and scope compared to the ECF.

4) Where do the funds come from? Does the Government contribute?

No, the government does not contribute. SLEMA has to generate its own funds. When we organize the training programmes and other activities we resort to sponsorships as a means of raising funds. Majority of the activities are self funded in the sense that we charge fees from the participants. When we have a part sponsorship, we offer programmes at subsidized prices to participants.There are some activities such as the All Island Poster Competition SLEMA conducted among school children to mark its silver jubilee which are conducted using its own funds.

Recently we conducted two Energy Managers Certification training programmes, for the first time in the country. There is one more such training programme to be conducted by SLEMA early next year. That particular programme was organized and executed for SEA. According to the SEA Act and the Energy Policy of Sri Lanka, all large energy consumers are required to employ an Energy Manager. Such energy Managers need to have certain basic qualification to certify their capabilities of managing energy adequately. The training is for that purpose. According to the broad definition, such an energy manager need not be a technical person. In a smaller organization even an accountant may do the role while larger organizations may opt to have a specially appointed Energy Manager. This particular Energy Manager Certification programme was held with assistance from the Japan International Corporation Agency, who funded it to highlight the significance and promote the concept of Energy Manager Certification. The reason why SEA handed the responsibility of conducting the programme over to SLEMA was due to our proven track record. SLEMA had expertise and experience having successfully conducted similar courses in the past. Since its inception, SLEMA has been conducting training programmes regularly. Some examples are the Energy Auditing Training programme, Boiler Operator Training programme and sector specific training programmes for hoteliers, garment industry and tea industry.

5) Are there any programmes that undergraduates can take part in?

Yes, we are thinking about having some programmes targeting the undergraduates. We have been discussing the matter and are planning to take the initiative soon. The task would be easier if there is a counterpart in the University with whom we can coordinate the work. All the people other than a few employees of SLEMA who run SLEMA office – the Project Manager, the Office Manager and the assistant,–are working on a voluntary basis. Therefore undertaking new tasks is not easy. Yet, we have been doing a fare amount of work.

For instance, if EESoc is prepared to organize a lecture or a seminar, of course SLEMA can address the undergraduates. Speaking to the final year and third year students would be the most effective as they are already learning the basic concepts of energy conservation and management. That would facilitate internalization of the concepts of energy management and rational use by the time they enter the industry after graduation. And they would know about the organizations through which they can work towards achieving these important objectives.

6) Perhaps we can form a student wing of SLEMA at the University?

It is a new idea you are coming up with. There are occasions when SLEMA is called upon to carry out tasks such as energy surveys. The undergraduates can participate in such work specially to execute the field work. It is a fact that most of the times SLEMA finds it difficult to undertake work due to lack of sufficient human resources. For example, we have now got the opportunity for the first time to conduct an energy auditing programme in some hotels in Maldives. Despite the fact that we have managed to find a team leader for the work, we are still struggling to engage two other auditors. The field work schedule runs over 10 days and there are difficulties for our members to undertake such work as most of them are working full-time elsewhere. Taking leave for such durations also is not a very viable option though done sometimes.

7) Currently we generate nearly 70% electricity out of thermal plants. The country can save a large amount of foreign exchange by reducing electricity consumption alone. We can’t just stop machines to reduce this consumption. What is your comment on this?

Being a developing country, Sri Lanka has an inevitably escalating electricity demand. In general, every year the demand rises by about 8% to 9% and that has been pretty much the same for the past decade or so. As we prepare to meet the rising demand, wastage of electricity has to be reduced to the maximum possible level. The objective of SLEMA is to instil the significance of energy conservation and rational use of energy in the minds of people. To cater to the high demand we have almost exploited the hydro resources to the fullest potential. There sources like wind power are being harnessed now but for options like solar the technology is still to achieve maturity and commercial viability. As a result of postponing the coal power plants there was a shortfall in capacity to meet the increasing demand. In the face of the problem, the quick solution was the use of petroleum fuel for thermal power generation which obviously was very expensive. All fuel used in thermal generation has to be imported as we do not have deposits in the country. We should have begun the coal based power generation which was the low cost option some decades back. Unfortunately, there were speculations and objections regarding emissions of a coal power plant that was blown up to such a magnitude that the whole idea of coal power generation was abandoned for a long while. What most did not realize was that the selected or forced alternative solution – diesel based thermal generation – also released tons of toxic sulphur and other pollutants to the atmosphere every day. With high quality coal and through employment of mitigation measures, it is possible to generate coal fired electricity in a more environmentally friendly manner. Consequently, with the lion’s share of generation coming from diesel power plants, electricity prices were heavily affected by the escalating world fuel prices.

8) Considering about Sri Lanka, bio energy plays a vital role. What is your point of view?

Nearly half of the energy demand of the country is met through bio fuel mainly in the form of firewood. To speak about the generation of electricity using bio thermal energy– so far that has not been a success story. There have been plants which were expected to be pilot projects that turned out to be failures. Despite many theories on paper, in practice the technology seems to have lost its way in the real world. Once, bio fuel – Dendro – was at one time even argued to be a replacement for coal power.

Some renewable energy is intermittent. For example, it is possible to produce electricity using wind power only when the wind blows. However, the consumer is not ready to have electricity only at times the wind is available. Therefore, a proper mix of electricity generation techniques is important. I am not suggesting that Dendro deserves to be thrown away. It is indigenous and supposed to generate many jobs as well, as Dendro experts claim. Yet, we have to be mindful of the real capabilities and limitations of renewable sources and their effect on the quality and reliability of the electricity supply.

9) For a typical building, it would cost around 75% of energy for the air conditioning. Is this suitable for a country like Sri Lanka?

Well, air conditioning is a requirement for the human comfort in a tropical country like ours. And lack of it is very likely to affect quality and productivity. However, there are many occasions where air conditioning is not used properly, resulting in wastage of electricity. That can and should be avoided. In fact, it should start at the building design stage. The walls of an air-conditioned building should have sufficient heat-insulation to prevent outside heat from coming in. Otherwise the A/C system will have to consume excessive amounts of power to take that heat out. Another good practice is not to have windows on eastern and western sides of a building to avoid direct lateral sunlight. There are newly developed building codes for Sri Lanka that sets proper guidelines to construct energy efficient buildings.

10) SLEMA making annual awards for the energy efficiency. What are those awards and what is the procedure?

Yes. To recognize and encourage energy related projects by the corporate sector and also by energy practitioners in Sri Lanka, SLEMA presents three annual awards.

First is the Prof. Mohan MunasingheAward which is awarded to the best energy conservation project successfully completed by an individual or a group within the previous two years. Prof. Mohan Munasinghe, the president emeritus of SLEMA is sponsoring this award.

The second is the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Award for an institution (industry, hotel, commercial establishment, etc.)For the best energy conservation project completed within the last two years.

The third is the award for the best energy - related study, which is awarded to an individual or a group who successfully researched and analysed various aspects of the energy sector in the region or in Sri Lanka. The study should contribute to the improvement of knowledge on Energy Supply, Utilization and Management in Sri Lanka. For this award, the research papers already prepared for or published in professional journals are also accepted.

11) In India they use energy efficiency building code known as ECBC (Energy Conservation Building Code). It is currently well known in the South Asian region. What is the regulation you are using here for the SL?

Sri Lanka also has developed its own building codes. Anybody who is interested in can find more details from the Sustainable Energy Authority. There is a booklet that spells out the building codes. Still it is not mandatory and only voluntary at the moment. But it is expected to become mandatory sometime in the future.

12) How can we gain the membership of SLEMA for the interested parties?

People with background in energy efficiency and management can become members of SLEMA. There are several membership categories such as Corporate Member, Associate Member, Institutional Member and Companion. To become a cooperate member, one needs to have undergone a formal training in the area and also should have demonstrated his or her capability in actual situations. To assess that a concise report has to be furnished and also an interview is conducted. More information and the application form you can find on our website www.slema.org.lk. There are a number of activities the members can take part which help them get to know the prominent professionals involved in energy related activities in the country and also their continuous education and professional development.

13) Any message to the society?

On one hand, energy is money. On the other hand, it is directly related to the environment around us. Therefore, energy conservation as well as the rational and sensible use of energy is very important. It will not only reduce you electricity and other fuel bills but also protect the environment as well. Everybody has to be aware of this. The people who are not that much aware about it should be educated. This can be started in the school. The children are the future. When the small ones get to know about these concepts, they will take the message to their parents. They will be strong influencers for the present and also will grow up with such concepts built into their life-styles. Then we can expect a better world.