📈 OPA Outlines Roadmap to Tackle Sri Lanka's Energy Crisis & Drive Sustainability

The Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA) convened a high-level seminar on May 13 to address the national energy crisis, emphasizing that energy sustainability is an immediate national necessity tied to economic growth and governance. • Current Energy Mix & Challenges: Experts highlighted a multi-dimensional crisis involving hydro variability, heavy dependence on imported fossil fuels, structural transition issues, and systemic inefficiencies. Strategic reform is required to reduce dependency on imported energy commodities and improve national security. • Renewable Energy Progress: • New Renewable Energy reached 2,060 GWh by end-2022, contributing 11.9% of total generation. • Approximately 75,000 rooftop solar systems have added about 1,400 MW to the national grid. • Rapid expansion is noted in both solar energy and small hydro power systems. • Grid Modernization & Electric Mobility: The power system is transitioning from a predictable hydro-thermal structure to a dynamic renewable energy–driven grid. Emerging operational pressures include midday solar surpluses, steep evening demand ramps, and electric vehicle (EV) peak charging. • Future Solutions: Grid stability will rely on digital intelligence, flexibility, and battery energy storage for peak shaving and frequency regulation. Electric vehicles can be transformed into grid assets via smart charging strategies, such as time-of-use pricing and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems.