Mackwoods Energy pursues initiatives in solar energy

Mackwoods Energy said yesterday it was presently in the process of finalising a feasibility for establishment of a 1 MW grid connected solar power plant located on an existing property of the company.

The move is part of Mackwoods Energy’s diversification plans to provide solar and wind  power  solutions to  customers  for  both  grid  and  off grid  based  applications.

A study of solar resources developed for Sri Lanka and the Maldives by National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA (NREL), by using a methodology that converts cloud cover information derived either from surface observations or satellite imagery into solar resource estimates, reveals that ample solar energy resources exist throughout the year in virtually all locations in Sri Lanka and Maldives for Photo Voltaic applications.

Sri Lanka, today, has an abundance of untapped solar and wind energy, and the potential to generate 20,000 MW. Rooftops, unused backyards and uncultivated or abandoned bare lands can be exploited to harness power.

Sri Lanka’s overdependence on fossil fuel based thermal energy has made it imperative to urgently  work towards  development of  alternate energy sources, particularly renewable   energy, where  the Government  is purchasing thermal power at a much higher unit rate than that    billed to the consumer.

CEB meanwhile has also introduced the net metering mechanism with the objective of facilitating individuals who take the initiative in generating their own solar or wind power, to benefit through substantially reduced electricity bills whilst enjoying an uninterrupted power supply from the CEB. Being located within the equatorial belt, the country has access to substantial solar energy resources throughout much of the year in adequate quantities for a multitude of applications including water heating, lighting, desalination, water pumping, air conditioning, refrigeration and meeting remote electrical loads throughout much of the non electrified regions. To harness this potential Mackwoods Energy has entered into strategic alliances internationally, and will be embarking on this project in the near future.