Green house gas mitigating options for the Sri Lankan power sector

Abstract

Global Warming due to increased amount of anthropogenic (created by man) GHG emissions has been a hoi lv debated sub|ect discussed in various forums. Repercussions due to this increasing global temperature range from outbreaks of diseases to mass inundation of land due to sea level rise. To respond to these threats arising out of Global Warming phenomenon, the international community has already undertaken some measures to curtail the emission of GHGs within stable limits.// The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)was adopted in convention have been held.// At the third Conference of parties to the UNFCCC held in Kyoto, Japan in 1997..a consensus decision was taken to adopt a protocol, under which industrialized countries will reduce their combined G l lG emissions by at least 5.2% compared to the 1990 levels, during the period of 2008- 2012. The Kyoto Protocol introduced three flexibility mechanisms to achieve this objective : Clean Development mechanism (Article 12), Joint implementation (Article 6). and Emission Trading (Article 17)// Sri Lanka is a developing country with a relatively low amount of GHG emissions at present. It has the capacity to participate in CDM projects. It is first necessary to assess the potential for prospective CDM projects in the country, before actual participation, once working solutions are devised ior the implementation of the Kyoto protocol. Once the implementation stage has been reached, main developing countries would be competing to attract the attention of the developed countries b\ offering an array of GHG mitigating projects in their respective countries. A market would therefore evolve where investments by the developed countries would be primarily targeting the low cost projects with high GHG mitigating potential in the developing countries.// It is necessary for Sri Lanka to identify the prospective GHG mitigating projects in the country in various sectors. the GHG mitigating potential of such projects should be studied in the light of underlying financial and technological parameters and constraints and a countrywise database should he devised. The Power Sector would constitute a significant portion of the total GFIG mitigating potential in the country. This study aims to identify the best project options in the Sri Lankan Power Sector that could benefit from the CDM mechanism once workable solutions are found for the implementation of the Kyoto protocol.