Govt. to focus on pumped-water storage technology for hydropower generation

Wednesday, 22 February 2012 00:44 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

With the rising cost in thermal electricity generation, the Government is focusing attention on utilising Pumped-Water Storage Technology for hydropower generation in the country.

The Power and Energy Ministry states that the technology is being utilised in South Korea and the Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka during his visit to the country had paid attention to the alternative technology.

During the discussions between Ranawaka and the South Korean leaders, the South Korean government has agreed to assist Sri Lanka to develop the power and energy sector. The South Korean government has agreed to provide financial, technical and machinery assistance to Sri Lanka to implement the pumped-water storage technology in the country.

Under the new technology, water at a low-elevation reservoir is pumped to a reservoir at a higher elevation using electricity during off-peak hours and the pumped-water is released to the lower reservoir through a turbine to generate hydropower when the demand for electricity is high.

The move is expected to minimise costs, increase hydropower generation capacity and reduce dependency on thermal power generation.

(Lankapage)