The Potential of Monaragala, Sri Lanka for Building Integrated Photovoltaics

Abstract

Solar energy is available in abundance on the island of Sri Lanka. The consumption of non-renewable energy resources has significantly increased in recent years, rapidly approaching the point of exhaustion. Moreover, the vast increase in energy consumption and CO2 emissions has become a contributing factor of great concern in the construction industry. This research has a primary objective of attempting to determine the potential of a house in Monaragala district to generate renewable energy via photovoltaic technology in order to combat climate change. The potential and compatibility of houses in Sri Lanka for the installation of PV modules are studied, and climate change policies in Sri Lanka are widely analysed. The research focus is mainly on the potential of building integrated photovoltaics and whether household roofs in the district of Monaragala are suitable for photovoltaic installation. This is done by collecting sample houses, analysing roofs on their orientation and area, carrying out calculations on the potential electricity that could be generated by the average dwelling, and determining whether these could meet current energy demands. Quantitative methods are made use of in this research in order to approach the research question. Mapping methods are utilised in order to establish roof area and orientation of houses, which are then used to compute the amount of electricity that can be generated via PV. Consequently, these values help to positively answer the research question, whether the need for fossil fuel energy in the domestic sector can be completely eradicated with the utilisation of PV. It is eventually determined that, with the right allocation of government subsidies and other modes of encouragement, the requirement for fossil fuel energy in the domestic sector may be nullified by making use of photovoltaic technology. The project eventually illuminated possible errors in data gathering and how they could be eradicated in future research.