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Energy Economics & Pricing National Energy Policy & Planning Renewable Energy DevelopmentTechnical Standards for Grid Interconnection of Embedded Power Plants

RMA was selected by the World Bank and Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB, the National Electricity Utility in Sri Lanka) to prepare a Guide for grid interconnection of small power plants embedded in the distribution system of Sri Lanka. RMA provided the Consulting Services to this project jointly with DULAS Ltd. of UK.

Connection of relatively small, embedded power plants to the CEB network commenced in the mid-1990s. These embedded power plants are mostly built, owned and operated by non-utility Companies and individuals. Presently, most of these are small hydroelectric plants, with a few Combined Heat and Power plants also in operation. There are purpose-built, investor-owned power plants as well as those with a captive load, such as a tea factory.

The interconnection agreement between the CEB and the Generator is based on a Power Purchase Agreement, which has been standardised by the CEB. The technical requirements for the safety and protection of equipment used for the interconnection were guided by the G/59 Technical Recommendations published by the Electricity Association of the UK. There was a need to streamline the design, testing and commissioning of the interconnection of embedded power plants with the Grid to match specific situations in Sri Lanka.

RMA in association with DULAS Ltd. of UK, developed the Guide Book, after studying the specific requirements and characteristics of both the CEB grid and the small power plants. Services provided to CEB also included two Training Courses conducted by RMA/DULAS.

OtherTraining of Engineers in the Design of Small Hydro Power Plants

Development of small hydropower in Sri Lanka dates back to early part of the twentieth century. It is estimated that nearly five hundred small hydro plants with a combined capacity of about 10 MW had been operating in the plantation sector in Sri Lanka during the first half of the century.

In 1993 CEB authorized the grid connection of small hydro plants, and since then, small hydro development started gathering momentum as a newly emerging investment opportunity for the private power sector. Total small hydro potential in Sri Lanka is estimated as 200MW to 250MW.

For the long term sustainability of small hydro development, it is necessary to build the local engineering capacity in such areas as, feasibility studies, design, & construction and O&M etc. Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) – Sri Lanka, a non-governmental organization with international reputation, realized this need and carried out several national training courses to build the local capacity in small hydro power.

In 1999, UNDP/GEF funding was made available by the Ministry of Irrigation & Power to ITDG to conduct two more training courses in this sector. ITDG selected RMA to design and implement these two courses.