Before the next Tender: Tap into Rooftop Solar Power

Presently, 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 or Enterprise in a small country like Sri Lanka.

Since the investors will include ‘Roof Top’ owners from 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 a gesture of National duty and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), as being considered at present 

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 the so-called pitfalls of the ‘Adani Project’.

Against this debatable and challenging backdrop, the writer opines that we should first pluck the ubiquitous ‘Lower hanging fruits’ found in the freely available ‘Solar energy’ which can be tapped by Solar Panels installed on freely available space of a readymade ‘Roof top’ infrastructure along with a battery storage system.

An additional advantage is that investors themselves, who occupy or regularly visit the sites, as owners of factories, enterprises, or houses, will closely monitor the proper maintenance and security of the system. Thus, ‘Roof top Solar’ would be more advantageous to the investors and the Country compared to the high cost of gigantic and specialised ‘wind power’ infrastructure installation and the associated maintenance costs. Moreover, compared to the aforementioned high pre-operational costs and other environmental and procedural concerns revealed in the cancelled ‘Adani Wind and Land-based Solar Power Projects’, the Rooftop Solar Projects are exempt from such costly and worrisome tasks. No doubt, the unit cost/price, which will serve as the bottom line for the Prosumers (Producers and Consumers), will reflect the impact of all variables in a nutshell.

Proposals to exploit low-cost ‘rooftop solar’ with battery storage

Presently, 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 or Enterprise in a small country like Sri Lanka. Additionally, as a citizen interested in seeing a reasonable price for power usage, the writer is pleased to enlist the following proposals to rationalise the decision-making process of the Govt. and the concerned authorities in regard to above.

1. Where Possible, persuade all major users of the grid, including Factories, Industries, Hotels, Hospitals, Cinema Halls, Schools, Religious places and other building owners etc. that have large rooftops to install Solar Panels with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).

2. To further catalyse the process, appropriate incentives such as import duty and VAT concessions should be granted to suppliers of Solar Panels and Battery systems, including other required items, within a specified time period.

3. Offer similar incentives to participating House owners across the country. According to Jeremy Fernando, (who is the Innovator and Patent holder for Energy Storage Systems (ESS), and is currently engaged as a freelance Consultant on ESS), Sri Lanka has more than 06 Million households and if 05 KWh systems are installed on additional 400,000 (6.66%) House rooftops, 2,000 MWh can be generated making each of them self- sufficient.

4. Since the investors will include ‘Roof Top’ owners from 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 a gesture of National duty and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), as being considered at present