Sri Lanka’s Ambitious Offshore Wind Farm Development Plans
Sri Lanka is gearing up to revolutionize its energy sector with the development of two 500 MW offshore wind farms. The country’s Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Chairman, Tilak Siyambalapitiya, has revealed plans to issue tenders for these projects in the coming years.
CEB is currently conducting feasibility studies along the Sri Lankan west coast, focusing on the Mannar and Puttalam areas. These locations have been identified as prime spots for offshore wind development. The studies are expected to be completed by 2027, with bidding rounds set to follow in the subsequent year.
“We have initiated a comprehensive study to chart a course for the deployment of offshore wind turbines. Supported by the World Bank, the initiative has already completed a pre-feasibility study this year. The findings suggest an initial target of 1,000 MW of offshore wind capacity, with power generation slated to commence by 2030,” Siyambalapitiya shared with local media.
Abundant Offshore Wind Potential
The World Bank estimates that Sri Lanka holds a significant offshore wind potential of approximately 56 GW. The western and southern coasts exhibit the most favorable wind speeds and technical conditions for harnessing this renewable energy source. Specifically, areas near Mannar Island and Puttalam have been earmarked for fixed-bottom foundations, with wind speeds averaging 8-9 m/s.
Of the total offshore wind potential, 27 GW lies in waters less than 50 meters deep, suitable for fixed-bottom turbines. The remaining 29 GW is floating wind capacity, located in deeper waters ranging from 50 to 1,000 meters.
Commitment to Sustainable Energy
Sri Lanka has identified offshore wind as a crucial element in its journey towards a carbon-neutral future. Recently, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $200 million loan to support the country’s power sector infrastructure upgrade, enabling better integration of renewable energy sources.
Although Sri Lanka’s total installed power generation capacity reached 5.2 GW in 2023, around 50 percent of electricity generation still relies on thermal power plants. However, the country has set ambitious targets in its updated nationally determined contribution, aiming for 70 percent of electricity generation from renewables by 2030 and carbon neutrality in the power sector by 2050.