Renewable Energy Development - Resource Management Associates (Pvt) Limited

Electricity Utility Planning Energy Efficiency & Demand Management National Energy Policy & Planning Renewable Energy DevelopmentPPTA: Sri Lanka Sustainable Power Sector Support II Project

This project preparatory technical assistance was to formulate the next ADB loan for the Sri Lanka Energy Sector, consisting of transmission, distribution, renewable energy and energy efficiency sub-projects, amounting to an estimated investment of USD 120 million. In association with AECOM of New Zealand, RMA provided expert assessment of transmission options and distribution strengthening requirements, rural electrification project formulation, requirements for distribution strengthening for the absorption of renewable energy to the national grid, and assessment of other renewable energy and energy efficiency interventions required. RMA successfully prepared the application for the Clean Energy Finance Partnership Facility of Japan/ADB, to finance a DSM pilot project in lighting, an appliance testing laboratory to launch the energy efficiency appliance labelling regulations, and for conducting of energy audit training. In parallel, the ADB loan project includes a credit line for the rehabilitation of micro-hydro projects in estates for grid connection under net metering rules recently announced by Sri Lanka.

The project formulated by the joint AECOM-RMA team has since been approved by ADB and is presently being implemented in Sri Lanka.

Renewable Energy DevelopmentMampuri Wind Power Plant

RMA was the engineering consultant for the first commercial wind power plant in Sri Lanka, commissioned in May 2010. RMA supported the developer company with wind resource assessment studies, equipment selection, tariff studies, financial modeling of the project, review of project contracts, designing of electrical system including the transmission network and supervision during project execution.

The project is one of the four small power producer facilities approved under the new cost-based pricing policy of the Government, to encourage a diversity of renewable energy sources for electricity generation to reach the national target of 10% by 2015.

Electricity Utility Planning National Energy Policy & Planning Renewable Energy DevelopmentAccess Improvement Project, Tanzania

RMA’s senior consultants worked as a part of the international team to assist the Tanzania Ministry of Energy and Minerals (MEM) and the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Commission (EWURA) to develop and establish the pricing policy for grid connected and mini-grid based small power plants that use renewable energy, and to develop the technical guidelines for grid connection of embedded generators. Conducted several seminars and workshops in Tanzania for developers, utility engineers, ministry officials and regulatory staff, to discuss optional tariff setting mechanisms, and to present the proposed tariffs and technical guidelines. The policies, pricing methodology and technical guidelines developed by the RMA consultants have since been implemented in Tanzania.

Power Generation and Economics Renewable Energy DevelopmentFeasibility Study on a 5 MW Wood-fired Power Plant at Puttalam Cement Works

Holcim (Lanka) Limited owns and operates the only fully integrated Cement manufacturing plant in Sri Lanka. Holcim decided to develop a captive power plant to meet the critical loads in the factory thus enhancing the overall plant reliability level. After studying several fuel options in the pre-feasibility study conducted by RMA, Holcim requested RMA to conduct the feasibility study on a wood-fired power plant.

Based on a detailed analysis of the factory power and energy demand, RMA recommended a conventional steam power plant of capacity 5 MW producing 35 GWh of electricity annually. On the fuel supply side, RMA conducted comprehensive studies to select the most promising short rotation crops for wood fuel, potential for growing them the region and developed the conceptual design of a wood fuel supply chain. Conceptual design of the power plant includes fuel handling system, heat & mass balance, sizing and specifying the boiler, steam turbine, generator and associated auxiliaries. A comprehensive financial model was developed to evaluate the commercial feasibility of the project. RMA also addressed the socio-economic issues and assessed the project risks. The feasibility report has been accepted by Holcim.

Electricity Utility Planning Renewable Energy DevelopmentTechnical and Financial Proposal for a 20 MW Wind Power Plant in Narakkalliya, Sri Lanka

In December 2002 Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) requested proposals from the private sector for establishing a 20 MW wind power plant on Build, Own and Operate basis. Senok Trade Combine Limited, which is one of the short-listed companies, contracted RMA to conduct necessary studies and prepare the technical and financial proposals for submission to CEB.

RMA conducted detailed wind data analysis using site-specific short-term wind measurements and long-term wind data from a nearby meteorological station to evaluate the site wind energy potential. Using the power curves of several wind turbine generators, RMA established the optimum machine and layout for the site. RMA also carried out the design of the 26 km long 33 kV transmission line and costing of civil works as per manufacturer’s foundation designs.

RMA conducted detailed financial analysis on the project and assisted the client to arrive at a competitive tariff.

Renewable Energy DevelopmentIntegration of Wind Energy into the Electrification Networks in Outer Islands in Maldives

All outer islands in the Maldives are electrified using diesel-based power plants. Cost of imported fuel and its transportation to outer islands accounts for a significant component of the local electricity tariff. Asian Development Bank (ADB), which is studying the overall development of the outer island electrification systems in the Maldives, contracted RMA to study the feasibility of integrating wind generators into island electricity networks.

RMA expert visited some of the potential islands along with the ADB Team and had extensive discussions with the local power system operators on this subject. Main difficulty experienced by RMA in this study is the lack of good quality wind data for assessment of the wind energy potential in islands. RMA accessed regional wind data and compared them with locally available data to make preliminary estimates of the wind power plant performance in the island wind climate. Subsequently, RMA assisted ADB in the preparation of a Project Brief for submission to the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) seeking grant funding for a wind and solar-based pilot project in the Maldives

Renewable Energy DevelopmentDesign of a 220 kW Small Hydro Power Plant for the Kissizi Hospital in Southwest Uganda

The Government of Uganda has proposed “Energy for Rural Transformation Programme” for World Bank assistance. The key objectives of this programme are to improve the rural quality of life and facilitate significant rural non-farm income by accelerating rural electrification using Uganda’s indigenous, renewable energy resources.

Expansion of the hydroelectric capacity of the small hydro plant in Kisizi Hospital is an investment that falls under the sub-component 2 of this programme. Kisizi Hospital, which is associated with the Church of Uganda, is located in the Rukungiri District in Southwest Uganda. The hospital has a strong presence in the area, with a campus of some 50 buildings from which a wide variety of community services are offered in support of their mission to address the social and economic, as well as the spiritual and curative needs of the local community.

The hospital has owned and operated a 60kW micro hydro plant since 1986 for its own use and is now interested in expanding its capacity utilizing the full hydro potential of the river Rusoma. The World Bank contracted RMA to carry out the design of this plant. Work done by RMA include:

 Hydrology analysis of river Rusoma.
 Redesign of the existing weir, intake and channel to handle 1000 l/s design flow.
 Sizing of the desilting tank.
 Hydraulic and structural design of the 700 mm penstock
 Writing technical specifications for electro-mechanical equipment.
 Overall project costing.

Renewable Energy DevelopmentWind Energy Resources Assessment in the North Western Coastal Belt and Knuckles Range

Due to its geographical location in the Indian Ocean, several regions in Sri Lanka experience strong to moderate winds during the Southwest and North-East Monsoons. In 1988, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) decided to investigate the potential for use of wind energy for large scale electricity generation. The three-year study covered the south-eastern lowlands, and on completion of it CEB installed a 3 MW pilot wind power plant for research and demonstration purposes.

CEB extended its wind resource studies to the north-western coastal region and Knuckles mountain range with technical and financial support from UNDP/GEF. CEB selected RMA as the National Consultant for the project due to RMA’s in-house expertise in this field.

Scope of the assignment includes,
 Site survey for a network of wind measuring stations over flat land and complex terrain.
 Supervision of wind mast installation.
 Wind data processing.
 Data analysis and reporting

Energy Economics & Pricing National Energy Policy & Planning Renewable Energy DevelopmentStudy on Small Power Purchase Tariffs, Sri Lanka

The World Bank initiated the Energy Services Delivery (ESD) project in Sri Lanka to support the development of renewable energy-based power generation. ESD project provided substantial amount of financing for small hydropower plants operating in the grid-connected mode selling electricity to the national utility – Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) on a standardized power purchase agreement.

The purchase tariff is calculated and announced by CEB at the beginning of each year. This tariff calculation is based on the principle of avoided costs to the utility as result of inputs to the grid from small power plants.

Concerns had been expressed about the methodology adopted by CEB to calculate the tariff, and the suitability of the principle of avoided costs itself. Furthermore, small power developers have claimed that they too should receive a capacity charge similar to what is paid to the large independent power producers. Views had also been expressed about the lower levels of the tariff, which was not adequately stimulating a rapid development of the remaining small hydroelectric sites and other renewable sources of energy.

The World Bank under the ESD project assigned RMA to conduct a study to analyze and propose improvements to the present method of CEB tariff calculations, and to examine whether capacity credits accrue to the utility with the embedded generators.

The work extensively used CEB’s WASP and METRO planning models.

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.

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