Framework to overcome barriers in implementing mega solar power projects in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The ultimate goal of this research is to develop framework to overcome barriers for mega solar power projects in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka being one of the tropical countries with high irradiation, still contributes only 51Mw of solar energy out of total of 4043Mw to fulfil the current demand of electricity. 77% of total energy production being coal and crude oil which causes to flow money out of the country and pollution to take place. Sri Lanka receives approximately through solar energy which is 3000 times greater than the current total energy demand in Sri Lanka if all receiving solar energy is utilized. Solar energy systems are not introduced long ago, but its potential should lead to speedy development and growth of solar industry. There are barriers which cause to slow down the growth of solar industry in Sri Lanka and they are identified through literature survey and refined accompanying expert focus group and classified according to the negative influence of each barrier. Sample mean method and principal component analysis is used to categorize and classify the refined barriers. Solutions were identified to overcome barriers for solar mega projects through interview survey and explained in detail except stating in the framework. Not only barriers, also causes of those identified barriers are revealed and solutions were recognized. Alternatively, negative influences to the project phases by barriers also were considered and influential barriers at each phase have been identified. Finally, framework is developed to overcome barriers of mega solar power projects in Sri Lankan context identifying barriers, causes of barriers for solar mega projects and developing solutions to overcome those negatively influenced barriers to speed up the growth of solar industry