The wind-mapping results of Sri Lanka show many regions with good-to-excellent wind resources. The main wind season is from May-September, and the secondary wind season from December-February, according to Mr Ramesh Kymal, chairman and managing director, Gamesa Wind Turbines Pvt. Ltd.
“With the enormous potential available, wind alone can cater to more than Sri Lanka’s total power requirement,” he said. At present, the total installed power generation capacity is about 10,000 MW of which 58 per cent comes from thermal sources, 41 per cent (hydroelectric) and the balance from other sources, including wind.
According to Mr Kymal, after meeting Sri Lanka’s growing power demand, the excess power generated by the wind sector can be utilised for export to India. The proposed HVDC inter-connection of the southern grid with Sri Lanka will help expand the power market for generation projects in India, and vice-versa.
At present, Gamesa Wind Turbines Pvt. Ltd., a 100 per cent subsidiary of Gamesa Corporation, is executing a large wind project in the Puttalam area of Sri Lanka.
(picture from www.nrel.gov)
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