In an effort to drive sustainable energy initiatives in Sri Lanka, Huawei recently organized a key conference titled ‘Unleashing the Potential of a Sustainable Energy Future’ in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) and the Solar Industries Association (SIA).
The event served as a dynamic platform for industry experts to share profound insights, fostering discourse on critical topics to drive the sector’s evolution, with over 300 prominent renewable energy invitees.
The objective of organizing this platform was not only to create a platform for businesses, industries, and government industries to collaborate and share ideas, but also to assist Sri Lanka in meeting its 2030 green energy vision.
Chairman of the SLSEA Engineer Ranjith Sepala delivered the opening keynote speech on the challenges and opportunities in the 2024 renewable energy landscape. He emphasized the SLSEA’s determination to overcome obstacles in order to meet the government’s target of 70% renewable energy by 2030.
He also said that if the 70 per cent renewable energy target is met by 2030, the demand for renewable energy will necessitate the investment of USD 8 billion in generation and USD 3 billion in transmission.
“Huawei is an important player in Sri Lanka’s sustainable energy sector, and I must thank Huawei and other collaborative organizations for this wonderful event. I hope that in the future, coal will power base load, and that in ten years, renewable energy will power base load. Now is the time to get ready because there are numerous opportunities for investors and developers to participate in this framework,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Professor Asanka Rodrigo of the University of Moratuwa echoed sentiments on the future trajectory of renewable energy, emphasizing the inevitability of smart grids and the consumer’s role evolving into a ‘prosumer.’
Distinguished speakers such as Deputy Director Engineering at Sri Lanka Standard Institution Hasitha Karunarathna, Director General of SLSEA J. M. Athula, President of SIA Engineer Asanka Tennakoon, Project Coordinating Officer at SLSEA Padmadewa Samaranayake, and Professor Lidula Widanagama Arachchige at Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Moratuwa collectively addressed various pivotal aspects of the industry, from regulatory standards to microgrid adaptation and best practices in the solar sector.
The conference concluded with a resounding call for collective action, emphasizing the vital function of technology, regulation, and collaborative efforts in steering Sri Lanka toward a greener, more sustainable future.