Sri Lanka identifies land for power projects

17 December 2011: Sri Lanka has identified 14 sites along its coastline to build power plants using energy from ocean waves as part of a move to shift to renewable energy sources and reduce reliance on costly fossil fuel. The island's energy deficit is increasing as rapid economic growth generates higher demand for electricity.

Wind power plants and trial projects using solar energy and biomass are already in place. Apart from this there is huge potential in the ocean. Wave and ocean thermal energy conversion are most promising energy sources which can be harnessed to generate electricity.

Harnessing energy from waves mainly depends on offshore current movements and the twin monsoonal patterns. The island is affected by the south-west monsoon which is the stronger of the two and covers the western coast, and the north-east monsoon, which covers the northern and eastern coastal belts.

Source: Lankabusinessonline