Benefits of high wind regimes experienced in the Country

By Eng. P.L.G. Kariyawasam

B.Sc. Eng., M.Sc. rer. Ene., C.Eng., MIE (SL)
(Charted Electrical Engineer presently working in the Ceylon Electricity Board)
Abbreviations
CEB (Ceylon Electricity Board), PUCSL (Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka), UNDP (United Nations
Development Programme), GOSL (Government of Sri Lanka), NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
USA), IRNEA (International Renewable Energy Agency), n.a. (Not available), NCRE (Con-Conventional
Renewable Energy)

Abstract
Wind power generation is the top player in renewable energy field in the world and it could be
seen that the number of utility scale wind power plants developed is ever increasing. This report
focuses to make a comparison on the predicted wind energy production based on the measured
wind data and the actual performance of wind farms operational in Sri Lanka. Also it emphasize
that the Feed-in-Tariff applicable for wind power generators could be further reduced due to high
wind regimes experienced in Sri Lanka in par with the other countries of the region.
Background
In year 2002, CEB published the results obtained on Wind Resource Assessment and Project
Preparation Project in the Puttalam and Central regions of Sri Lanka, which is a sub-project of
the overall project of the Ministry of Power and Energy on Capacity Building in Renewable
Energy and Energy Efficiency funded by the UNDP and GOSL. Based on the wind speed
measurements collected during the study period (Four (04) 40 m high measuring masts were
erected in Puttalam region and Three (03) masts were erected in Central hills.), the foreign
consultant of the project, M/S Espace-Eolien Development, France, have modeled a sample wind
farms in both the regions based from the meteorological data sources from measurement stations
and estimated that around 35% Capacity Factor (The capacity factor of wind power plant is the
ratio of average delivered energy to theoretical maximum energy.) could be obtained with NEG
Micon750/48 machine and 30% with NEG Micon 750/44 machine. (The hub height of the
turbines has been fixed at 50 meters above ground level in both cases. NEG Micon 750/48
machine has a 48 meters rotor diameter, while NEG Micon 750/44 machine has a 44 meters
rotor diameter). Also, it was estimated that 4% less energy in the Central Region of Ambewela
with the same machines and at the same hub height.
Wind Energy Resource Atlas for Sri Lanka and Maldives was published in year 2003 by NREL.
This atlas was prepared based from the meteorological data sources, includes surface and upperair data taken from measurement stations, ocean surface winds derived from satellite
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measurements and computer model-derived estimates. In the atlas, they classified the areas based
on wind energy potential from poor to excellent. This classification table is re-produced below
for reference.
Table 1 - NREL Wind Resource Classes3
Wind Class
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Resource
(Utility Scale)
Poor
Marginal
Moderate
Good
Excellent
Excellent
Excellent

Potential Wind Power Density

(W/m2) @ 50 m agl
0 200
200 300
300 400
400 500
500 600
600 800
800 >

Wind Speed(a) (m/s)

@ 50 m agl
0.0 5.6
5.6 6.4
6.4 7.0
7.0 7.5
7.5 8.0
8.0 8.8
8.8 >

(a)

Mean wind speed is estimated assuming a sea level elevation and a Weibull distribution of wind speeds with
a shape factor (k) of 2.0. The actual mean wind speed may differ from these estimated values by as much as
20 percent, depending on the actual wind speed distribution (or Weibull k value) and elevation above sea level.

According to the wind atlas, wind resource potential along coastal areas from Hambantota to
Buththala was classified as Class 4, Kalpitiya Peninsula and Mannar Island classified as Class 5
and Ambewela and Central Hills classified as Class 5 and 6. Also it was highlighted that Mannar
Island is more exposed to the Wind than Kalpitiya Peninsula and therefore continuous wind
generation is expected resulting more stable power output. According to the wind atlas, the wind
farms located at present has low wind power density than further north of Kalpitiya Peninsula,
which is similar to Mannar Island. Therefore wind power generation and resulting Capacity
Factors of future Wind Power Plants in Mannar Island could be expected to be more than present
wind power plants operational in Kalpitiya Peninsula.
Wind Power Generation
The amount of Power generation from a wind machine is very much depended on the availability
of the wind at the turbine location. Therefore, systematic studies are carried out to identify the
best wind regimes and suitable locations for wind turbines, which are suitable for wind electric
power generation. The capacity factor of a wind power plant is site specific and the economical
viability of a wind power plant is also dependent on its Capacity Factor. Based on the data
collocated on performance of the operational wind farms in the world, NREL published average
capacity factors of wind farms in USA and they are given in the following table.
Table 2 Capacity Factors of USA7

Off shore wind

On shore wind

Minimum

Medium

Maximum

27%
29%

43%
40.35%

54%
50.6%

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Off-shore wind farms have more capacity factors than the On-shore wind farms due to high wind
regime and low friction of wind movement. Average capacity factors of Danish wind farms is
around 47% while Horns Rev 11 off-shore wind farm recorded the highest capacity factor of
53.1% in year 2013. The capacity factor of a wind farm plays a major role in determining the
economic viability of a wind farm. According to IRENA Publications, the capacity factors of
wind farms and the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of wind farms developed in different
regions are given in the following table.
Table 3 Levelized Cost of Electricity
Country

On-Shore Wind
China / India
Europe
North America

Installed
Capacity Factor O & M Cost LCOE (USD/kWh)
(Capital)
Cost (%)
(USD/kWh)
(2010 USD/kW)
1300 to 1450
1850 to 2100
2000 to 2200

20 30
25 35
30 45

n.a.
0.013 to 0.025
0.005 to 0.015

0.06 0.11
0.08 0.14
0.07 0.11

Off-Shore Wind
Europe
4000 to 4500

40 - 50

0.027 to 0.048

0.14 - 0.19

(The LCOE is the price of electricity required for a project where revenue would equal costs,
including making a return on the capital invested equal to the discount rate. An electricity price
above this would yield a greater return on capital, while a price below it would yield a lower
return on capital, or even a loss.)
Capacity Factors in Sri Lanka Wind Farms
Based on the electricity generated in year 2013 by the wind power plants constructed in Puttalam
and Central Regions of Sri Lanka, the capacity factors were calculated and tabulated as
follows.(The Power plants which operated in whole year were considered.)

Table 4 Capacity Factors of Wind Farms in Sri Lanka

Name of wind Location6
farm
Ambewela

Kalpitiya

Ambewela
0605036N
8004847E
Puttalam

Type
Turbine
n.a.

of Declared
Capacity
MW
3.0

Units
Generated
GWh
4.103

Capacity
Factor %
15.6%

29.380

34.2%

and
13 x 0.75 9.8
MW Unison

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Mampuri

Madurankuliya

Nirmalapure

Seguvantivu

Uppudaluwe

Vidatamunai

Puttalam
0800037N
7904324E
Puttalam
0705753N
7904407E
Puttalam
0705753N
7904407E
Puttalam
0800248N
7904854E
Puttalam
0705852N
7904633E
Puttalam
0800400N
7904738E

8 x 1.25 10
and MW Suzlon
S64/1250
n.a.
10
and

28.339

32.4%

45.275

51.7%

10
(11.025)

33.912

38.7%
(35.1%)

9.6

30.024

35.7%

10.5

19.602

22.4%

13 x 0.8 10.4
and MW
Gamesa AE
59

32.128

35.3%

7 x 1.575
and MW LTW
77-1.5
12 x 0.8
and MW
Gamesa AE
59
7 x 1.5 MW
and LTW 77-1.5

The above calculated figures shows that the actual capacity factors of the power plants in
Puttlam region gives almost equal capacity factor calculated based on the sample wind farm.
Since most of the wind farms are located along Kalpitiya Road in the Puttalam Region, all the
power plants are directly exposed to wind during the South-West monsoon. Also during the
North-East monsoon these power plants are equally exposed to the wind due to low vegetation in
the direction of wind. Therefore the Capacity Factors of all power plants gives almost equal
values.
The capacity factor of Madurankuliya wind farm gives a very high figure similar to off shore
wind farms in Europe. This capacity factor may be one of the highest recorded on-shore wind
farm in the world and difficult to compare with the sample results. It is fruitful to analyses the
results of Madurankuliya wind power plant data with present day wind data at the site and
machine characteristics.
Due to mountain terrain in Ambewela, it is extremely difficult to predict the best potential wind
turbine site. Best suitable locations for the wind turbine could be decided by micro sitting with
long term data. However the actual data of Ambewela farm is lower than the predicted results.
Feed-in-Tariff for NCRE
With the enforcement of Sri Lanka Electricity Act No. 20 of 2009, the administration of the
provisions of Act is vested with the PUCSL. In year 2011, the methodology for Feed-In-Tariff
for NCRE was approved by the PUCSL in terms of section 43 of the Electricity Act. The
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methodology applies for purchasing NCRE based electricity from power plants, including wind
power generation plants, having capacities below 10 MW and operating under Standard Power
Purchase Agreements with the CEB.
At present, there are two types of optional tariff system applicable for Non-Conventional
Renewable Energy based electricity generation including wind power generators. They are 3-tier
tariff and flat tariff. In 3-tier tariff system, tier 1 tariff is applicable for 8 years, tier 2 tariff is
applicable for next 7 years and the tier 3 is applicable for next 5 years. Flat option is a constant
tariff over 20 years.
According to the methodology, the NCRE based electricity purchased tariff is to calculate based
on projected cash flow of a genuine 1 MW plant over 20 years, including Return on Equity
(ROE) for 15 years. (More details The methodology for Feed in Tariffs NCRE PUCSL
Publication October 04, 2011)
Announced flat tariff and assumed data to determine the tariff by PUCSL for years 2011 and
2012 for wind power generators are given below.
Table 5 PUCSL announced Feed-in-Tariff and assumed Data5
Wind

2011

2012

212 M. Rs.
(M. USD 1.91)
032%
03% of Capital
14.86%
7.6%
0
Rs. 19.43
(USD 0.17)

223 M. Rs.
(M USD 1.95)
032%
01.5% of Capital
16.37%
6.14%

Wind Local

Rs. 19.97
(USD 0.18)

Rs. 21.22
(USD 0.19)

1 USD

Rs. 110.95

Rs. 113.90

Capital Cost
Capacity Factor
O & M Cost
Discount Rate
Escalation Factor for O & M
Flat Tariff -Wind

Rs. 20.62
(USD 0.18)

With the comparison of figures in table 3 and 5, it could be seen that the highest unit rate given
for wind power generation is in Sri Lanka. Also the Capacity Cost of the Wind Power Plants is
much higher than India and China and it is almost equal to Europe. But it is to be noted that the
LCOE of Europe is lower than the Feed-in-Tariff in Sri Lanka with similar Capacity Factor.
To determine the above tariff, annual capacity factor of 32% was considered. However, if the
PUCSL has used the results obtained in the previous studies, then the capacity factor of 35%
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could be used to determine the feed in tariff for wind power generator. If the 35% plant factor
was used, then the flat tariff for wind generators could be reduced by 9% per unit (around Rs.
1.75 per kWh) without changing any other parameters used to determine the Feed-In-Tariff.
Conclusion
The methodology to determine the capacity factor for future power plants is given in the
PUCSLs Feed-in-Tariff methodology. One of the factors to be considered is the historical plant
factors of the existing power plants of the same technology in addition to the existing resources
potential. As NREL study shows, the wind resource potential in Mannar region North of
Kalpitiya Peninsula is higher than Puttalam region and then it is expected that the Feed-in-Tariff
in future power plants developed in Mannar region and north of Kalpitiya Peninsula would be
less than the present tariff. The interest rate applicable for Capital Loans, which is a component
to determine the discount rate, is also gradually decreasing giving favorable investment
opportunities. The price of wind machines is gradually decreasing due to increase competition
and growth of wind power market in the world. Since all these factors are favorable for wind
power generation, it is expected that the Feed-in-Tariff for wind power generation in Sri Lanka
would be in comparable with the feed-in-tariff of other countries in the region and would be
benefitted to reduce the generation cost of electricity.

References;1. Wind Power Volume 1 Power Sector (Issue 5/5) IRENA June 2012
2. Wind Measurements over Sri Lanka Espace Eoline Development, France (2002)
3. Wind Energy Resource Atlas of Sri Lanka and Maldives NREL (2003)
4. www.windpower.lk web site
5. www.pucsl.gov.lk web site
6. Wikipedia List of power stations in Sri Lanka
7. Wind Turbine Net Capacity Factor by Zachary Shahan Clean Technica (2012)
8. Capacity Factor of Wind Power by Nicolas Boccard (2008)
9. Capacity Factors of Danish wind farms (2014)
10. CEB Data on Energy Production from wind power plants

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