Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is prioritizing the development of domestic energy resources, with a special emphasis on renewable energy sources, and employing hydrogen as an effective storage medium. Green hydrogen is also being harnessed as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels in the transportation and industrial heating sectors.

The National Hydrogen Roadmap was launched in September 2023 and was developed in collaboration with the Petroleum Development Authority of Sri Lanka (PADSL) and Greenstat Hydrogen India, a subsidiary of a Norwegian energy company with a focus on green hydrogen.
The roadmap covers various sectors such as energy security, sectoral decarbonization, transport and logistics, manufacturing and agriculture, and buildings and energy. The President of Sri Lanka highlights the importance of green hydrogen in utilizing the country's abundant wind and solar resources for grid-independent export and attracting global capital. The roadmap's objectives include creating an enabling environment, ensuring bankability in green hydrogen projects, establishing infrastructure, promoting international collaboration, and implementing pilot projects. 
 

The Sri Lanka National Hydrogen Roadmap covers several sectors for the implementation of green hydrogen. These sectors include:

1. Energy Security: The roadmap aims to address the energy security challenges faced by Sri Lanka by reducing reliance on imported hydrocarbon fuels and promoting the use of renewable energy sources.

2. Energy Export: Sri Lanka aims to become one of the largest exporters of renewable energy in the region by leveraging green hydrogen technologies.

3. Sectoral Decarbonization and Import Substitution: The roadmap focuses on decarbonizing various sectors of the economy, such as transportation, logistics, manufacturing, agriculture, and buildings, by promoting the use of green hydrogen as a clean energy source.

4. Transport and Logistics: The roadmap aims to promote the use of green hydrogen in the transportation and logistics sectors to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable mobility.

5. Shipping: The roadmap includes initiatives to explore the use of green hydrogen in the shipping industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable maritime transportation.

6. Aviation: The roadmap explores the potential of green hydrogen in the aviation sector to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable air travel.

7. Manufacturing and Agriculture: The roadmap focuses on promoting the use of green hydrogen in the manufacturing and agriculture sectors to reduce carbon emissions and enhance sustainability.

8. Buildings and Energy: The roadmap includes initiatives to promote the use of green hydrogen in buildings for clean cooking and to transition households to cleaner energy sources.

 

The objectives of the Sri Lanka National Hydrogen Roadmap, as inferred from the extracted content, are as follows:

1. Address Key Energy Challenges: The roadmap was created in response to Sri Lanka’s Green Hydrogen Strategy to address the country's primary energy challenges.

2. Domestic Industry Participation: The plan aims to enable the domestic industry to participate in both the supply and demand of Green Hydrogen technologies.

3. Develop a Long-term Export Market: The roadmap focuses on harnessing the potential of green hydrogen for export, especially considering the country's abundant wind and solar resources.

 

Phased Implementation:

• Phase 1 (2022-2025): This phase will focus on creating a well-functioning domestic market, addressing research and development, international aspects, and initiating priority pilots, trials, and demonstration projects. It will also involve the assessment of domestic demand, publishing safety standards, initiating capacity-building initiatives, and concluding offshore energy studies.

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• Phase 2 (2025-2028): This phase will emphasize stabilizing the domestic market, expanding the international dimension of hydrogen, focusing on offshore wind development, exports, and activating the medium-scale market.

As per the Green Hydrogen Roadmap, Sri Lanka believes that the key to successfully integrating and implementing a hydrogen economy lies in maintaining unwavering safety standards. To achieve these high standards, the country has initiated collaborations with technology partners who possess extensive experience in the most demanding environments related to hydrogen and molecular safety. As a result, Sri Lanka plans to release its Hydrogen Safety Standards, which will comprise a robust monitoring and evaluation framework as well as periodic revisions to keep pace with global advancements in the field. Ensuring that safety standards are not compromised will provide a solid foundation for the growth and success of the hydrogen economy in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is also committed to actively participating in the global push towards standardized green hydrogen certification. By engaging in international collaboration and aligning with global best practices, the country can contribute to the development of a transparent and robust certification system. The following points outline how Sri Lanka plans to participate in this effort: 

• Collaboration with international organizations and initiatives Sri Lanka will join forces with global organizations and initiatives that focus on developing standardized green hydrogen certification, such as the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE)
   
• Sharing best practices and expertise Sri Lanka will actively contribute to international dialogues and share its experiences and expertise in green hydrogen production, infrastructure, and safety. By participating in global forums and conferences, Sri Lanka can help shape the development of certification standards and learn from the experiences of other nations. 
   
• Adoption of global certification standards Sri Lanka will align its national policies and regulations with international green hydrogen certification standards as they emerge. By adopting these standards, the country can ensure that its hydrogen industry remains competitive in the global market and adheres to best practices in terms of sustainability and environmental protection. 
   
• Monitoring and enforcement Sri Lanka will establish a robust monitoring and enforcement framework to ensure compliance with international green hydrogen certification standards. This includes setting up a dedicated regulatory body or task force responsible for overseeing the certification process and enforcing penalties for non-compliance
   

Sri Lanka is endowed with several types of renewable energy resources, including biomass, hydropower, solar and wind. Sri Lanka aspires to become a carbon neutral country by 2050 by making the most out of the energy available and developing cleaner energy resources according to the National Energy Policy and Strategies of Sri Lanka. The country could potentially increase to a capacity of 73GW, that it can use to produce green hydrogen for domestic energy use, while its surplus wind power can be exported.  

Hydroelectricity is the second highest energy generation source in Sri Lanka after fossil fuels.

As the country is rich in other renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and biomass, the Sri Lankan government has approved a base case plan which outlines a target of 4,705MW of solar power, 1825MW of wind power, 195MW of mini-hydro, and 200MW of biomass power by 2030. [1]  

Sri Lanka has the locational potential for estimated 56GW of offshore wind, according to a new report published by the World Bank. Its Offshore Wind Roadmap for Sri Lanka down the potential for 27GW of fixed offshore wind in shallow waters (less than 50 metres) and 29GW of floating offshore wind in deeper waters (between 50 and 1,000 metres). [2]

There are three broad areas suitable for offshore wind development, but the western and southern coasts have the most energetic wind speeds and suitable technical conditions, according to the report, which was commissioned by the country.     

Green hydrogen and its derivatives represent the most viable option for maximizing the potential of this excess renewable energy. Furthermore, exporting green ammonia will provide significant economic benefits through lease, royalty, and tax revenues from the allocation and commercialization of acreage for offshore wind. Sri Lanka can move from an energy deficit to a surplus if it develops large volumes of green hydrogen and ammonia within the next five years.  

According to the Sri Lanka National Hydrogen Roadmap, initiatives such as the procurement and manufacturing of electrolysers, hydrogen storage systems, and transport systems will be given priority to meet demand and ensure high efficiency and low cost. [1]

Identification of opportunities in hydrogen value chain manufacturing, such as electrolysers and hydrogen storage equipment will be undertaken under Phase 1 of its hydrogen roadmap. The domestic manufacturing of electrolysers and associated equipment shall commence in the Phase 4 of the roadmap i.e., between 2035 and 2048. [2]

 

• Sri Lanka is ready to embark on an ambitious project of producing green hydrogen in collaboration with a Norwegian company Greenstat Hydrogen Ltd. Based in India. Energy Minister Udya Gammanpila disclosed that Petroleum Development Authority of Sri Lanka (PDASL) signed an MoU with Greenstat Hydrogen in February 2022 to launch a pilot project for generating green hydrogen in Sri Lanka. [1]

• The Adani Group is planning a green hydrogen plant as part of the new container development it is constructing at Sri Lanka’s Port of Colombo West. Gautam Adani, chairman, Adani Group, met with the Sri Lankan president recently to discuss continued plans for the terminal, at which there is a large focus on renewable energy. [2]