More wind power plants to be set up

Sri Lanka could sell renewable energy to India as the wind power potential in the country is huge. This process does not need technical skill, but political will, Chairman and Managing Director, Gamesa Lanka, Ramesh Kymal said. "Our company could support the Sri Lanka policy initiative to use 100 percent renewable energy by 2030 as the country has a potential of 20,000 MW of wind power. The entire power need at present is 3,000 MW, he said. Gamesa, a global leader in wind turbine technology, which set up a commercial office in Sri Lanka last week is the only wind turbine solutions provider in the country to have a permanent office.

The power plants with an installed capacity of 45.3 MW will be set up under the O and M system, making it the biggest wind turbine supplier in Sri Lanka with a market share of over 40 percent.

“The wind energy portfolio formulated by the Sustainable Energy Authority envisages having 200 MW operational by 2017. Having set up a permanent base in Sri Lanka, we hope to contribute towards this target by harnessing the wind potential in the country," Gamesa Lanka Head of Operations, Sampath Kariyawasam said.

The recently installed 2 MW turbine is one of the largest turbines to be installed in the country.

"We look forward to being a committed partner and support the country on its journey towards a cleaner and greener future," he said.

Gamesa Lanka hopes to venture into the solar power sector aiming at water purification. It has five wind power plants in Sri Lanka with the newly set up facility in Katunayake. The company will introduce technically advanced turbines and will work on market specific technical solutions.

Gamesa is a Euro 2.9 billion Spanish Group which has a presence in 51 countries with an installed capacity of over 30,000 MW.

- SJ