By: Staff Writer
May 08, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has decided to sign a 20-year wind power deal with India’s Adani Green Energy Limited.
The Cabinet of Ministers had granted approval at their meeting held on 07.03.2022 to enter into a memorandum of understanding with M/s Adani Green Energy Limited of India to develop wind power stations in Mannar and Pooneryn.
Accordingly, a negotiations committee has been appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers in order to evaluate the project proposal furnished by the said Company.
Based on the recommendations of that Committee, the Cabinet of Ministers has now granted approval to a resolution forwarded by the Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera to accept the last price as USD $ 8.26 cents (subject to payment in Sri Lankan Rupees as per the actual foreign exchange rate) per KW for the electricity generated under the proposed project.
The Government said that it has also been decided to award the tender to M/s Adani Green Energy SL Limited for a period of 20 years.
Adani Green Energy’s US$442 million wind power project in Mannar and Pooneryn is undergoing a technical review of the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) following Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) public consultation process
The proposed wind farm will comprise 52 wind turbines of 5.2 MW capacity each will be spread across most parts of Mannar which will become a “death trap” for migratory birds, they added.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), including Birds and Bats Studies was carried out by the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA), under the leadership of, Senior Prof. Devaka Weerakoon Professor, Department of Zoology and Environment Sciences, University of Colombo.
The report was based after year-long on-ground studies and data sets of The Ceylon Bird Club (CBC), The Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL) and Ramsar data sheet were also considered. The EIA guides several steps for the developer to reduce the environmental impact.
Adani Group will deploy modern technology to not just minimize the project’s potential environment impact but also deliver it on time and budget, a spokesman of the company. Jamien Boulton said
For the first time in the island nation, 5.2 MW Wind Turbine Generator (WTG), one of the most powerful onshore wind turbines in the world, will be used, providing higher generation at a lower overall footprint, he disclosed.
The project will implement AI-based radar systems to detect incoming flocks and automatically shut down turbines during high-risk periods, he said.
Acoustic and visual deterrents such painting the tip of the blades will be installed to deter birds from flying into them, and also use taller turbines with slower blade rotation speeds, reducing collision risks, he reiterated
