Renewable Energy Developers denounce govt. committee to review renewable energy projects

By Yohan Perera   

The Federation of Renewable Energy Developers (FRED) yesterday denounced the committee appointed to review energy projects that have been agreed upon in recent times and urged the government to engage in a dialogue with the stakeholders to create a new balanced renewable energy portfolio.   
This was among few demands made by FRED to save the renewable energy sector in Sri Lanka which is on the decline with 30 renewable energy projects coming to a standstill.   
“We urge the government to engage in an open and transparent dialogue with all industry stakeholders to develop a long term, sustainable energy strategy that promotes a diversified and balanced renewable energy portfolio,” FRED President Thusitha Peiris told a media briefing.   
FRED Executive Committee Member Prabath Wickramasinghe who elaborated on the said committee said it is acting in a very biased manner. “It is a biased decision by this committee to reduce the feed in tariff (amount paid for the suppliers of renewable energy suppliers),” he said   
“The committee is far from being independent as it has only buyers of power such as Ceylon Electricity Board,” he stated, adding that renewable energy suppliers are not represented in the committee. He also questioned why this committee did not include an independent regulator such as the Public Utilities Committee. 
  
FRED alleged that Sri Lanka’s power sector is controlled by few parties which does not think of the nation’s future.   
The Ministry of Power and Energy announced the appointment of a committee to review various renewable energy projects in October 2024. The committee was to review approximately 40 wind and solar power projects, including the Mannar Wind Power Project. The committee was also assigned to evaluate the cost per unit of electricity purchased from these projects and the economic benefits they bring.