Edinburgh Napier University

  Sri Lanka as a developing country is facing existential energy challenges. Total electricity consumption was 12.79 TWh in 2016 and is projected to increase about 6 times to 71.97 TWh by 2050. The projected energy demand will exceed supply in a few years. A transition to 100% renewable energy (100RE) supply will address fuel security, and environmental concerns. This study investigates the potential quantity of renewable energy sources in Sri Lanka for a transition to a 100RE future. This thesis reports a detailed feasibility study framework and case studies for the development and implementation of 100% renewable energy supplied Smart Energy Systems and Transport future for Sri Lanka. The feasibility study framework and the case study analyses are based on a long-term energy system model of Sri Lanka using the EnergyPLAN model. Sri Lanka should have a potential install capacity of grid-connected wind, solar photovoltaic, dammed hydro, river hydro and biomass to achieve 100% renewable energy solution, and the estimated values are 14430 MW, 15600 MW, 1576 MW, 753 MW and 394 MW, respectively. Different development scenarios towards 100RE are used to study the pathway towards 100RE. These scenarios are based on a staged increase of renewable energy such as biomass. The scenarios also include conversions to electrical vehicles, waste to energy, H2 usage and dump charge system for transport. The results prove that a pathway for 100RE is possible. The 100RE pathway ensures energy security and mitigates environmental impacts. The pathway includes improvements in industrial energy intensity and utilising efficiency and conservation potentials. Fuel demand for the industry will be supplied through a high share of biomass usage. Bioenergy and electrification integration are key to the solution, all remaining fuel consumption is converted to solid biomass. The results show that there are technically feasible pathways to achieve 100RE solutions for Sri Lanka with the present and predicted renewable energy technologies. Sri Lanka can meet the future energy demand without importing energy with the complementary socio-economic and socio-political approaches.