Activating the energy of the sun

Saturday, 16 July 2022 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Last week we published a detailed article on how Sri Lanka’s entire economy and human wellbeing could change if we had a macro policy for using the energy of the sun for our electricity generation.

Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) engineers were among those who we interviewed on the process of making solar energy the future of Sri Lanka as featured last week (https://www.ft.lk/harmony_page/From-begging-bowl-to-self-reliance/10523-737237).

We drew attention to a macro national solar energy development plan which Sri Lankan Engineer Harsha Kumar Suriyarachchi had conceptualised way back in 2020; based on an integrated vision to launch Sri Lanka on its journey of energy independence by 2025.

In researching the efforts of diverse others to steer Sri Lanka towards renewable energy in the past years we spoke to those such as Engineer Kamal Perera who heads the Renewable Energy Development Branch of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Engineer Ajith Alwis who currently heads phase 03 of the Mannar, Mullikulam wind power project of the CEB and Professor (Eng.) G. Senarathne, President of the Graduate Institute of Science and Management who had previously taught telecommunication and electronics related subjects at the Massey University in New Zealand.

Engineer Kamal Perera of the Renewable Energy Development Branch of the CEB stated that in 2020, following several phases of different evaluations over the past years on shifting Sri Lanka to renewable energy, a proposal had been submitted by the CEB, based on their research, looking at strategic adaptation to solar, wind and hydro based energy. The main stumbling block in this regard had been the Cabinet non-approval when the tender related documents were submitted.

In this new phase Sri Lanka is in, the Harmony page would like to announce that together with the support of Daily FT Editor in Chief Nisthar Cassim, and veteran writer and practitioner promoting sustainable living Frances Bulathsinghala, alongside different beneficiaries, with the support of relevant engineering experts, a one-year pilot project will be initiated to transform most rural schools to solar energy.

Commencing with immediate effect, 30 schools around the country will be selected for the above purpose to provide for students to engage in their studies through computers. This endeavour will be combined with the teaching of English through Sri Lanka’s traditional knowledge for individual and national wellbeing, as conceptualised by Frances Bulathsinghala and will include knowledge on how ancient Sri Lankans used the energy of the sun in diverse ways.

We request all those interested in supporting this cause for which we will be engaging diverse national media of Sri Lanka as well, to contact us on 0777 273395 via text.

Extensive awareness on what each individual, village, and local and central government could do to create the discourse on solar energy will be discussed in detail in this page. Detailed interviews with engineers specialising in renewable energy will be published. We will also facilitate educational discussions in schools and universities to encourage a national discourse on the link between renewable energy and the economy.

(SV)