On-site renewable energy for industrial buildings in Sri Lanka: a life-cycle cost analysis

ABSTRACT

Industrial sector consumes a substantial portion of electrical energy. Building owners persistently believe that combining on-site renewable energy systems to buildings is not cost-effective in Sri Lanka. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the use of on-site renewable energy sources for industrial buildings in Sri Lanka. This research carried out 10 expert interviews and 6 case studies. Experts determined that solar and biomass as viable on-site energy generating sources in Sri Lanka. Life-cycle cost was calculated for six case studies representing three case studies for each viable option followed by a sensitivity analysis. Based on the research findings, biomass can effectively manage waste while eliminating the risk of the emission of harmful biomethane. Based on the calculations, the payback period for a solar system varies between 4 and 6 years and biomass system varies between 6 and 7 years. This research explored the potential of generating on-site renewable energy for industrial building. Although the ‘on-site’ energy generation is not widely discussed in industrial buildings, this research study strengthened the possibility of adopting solar and biomass as on-site renewable energy generation sources.

KEYWORDS:

• Biomass
• industrial buildings
• life-cycle cost
• solar energy
• Sri Lanka

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

N. W. K. V. V. Nanayakkara

N.W.K.V.V Nanayakkara is a professional Quantity Surveyor. He is a graduate of department of Building Economics, University of Moratuwa with a First Class degree in B.Sc. (Hons) in Quantity Surveying, University of Moratuwa. He is also a graduate member of Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Sri Lanka (IQSSL). His Research interests are Life Cycle Costing (LCC), Sustainable Development, Renewable Energy and Construction Cost Management.

B. A. K. S. Perera

Ch.QS Prof (Mrs) B.A.K.S. Perera (Kanchana Perera) is a Professor in Quantity Surveying attached to the Department of Building Economics, University of Moratuwa. She is also serving as the director of the Staff Development Center of the University of Moratuwa. After her graduation from the University of Moratuwa and before joining the academic staff of the University of Moratuwa, Prof. Perera worked for seven years in the construction industry, first as a quantity surveyor and then as a senior quantity surveyor. By now, she has around 17 years of working experience in the academia. Prof. Perera is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and a Fellow Member of the Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Sri Lanka (IQSL), Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS) and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). She is currently the Vice President of the IQSSL. She served as a member of the Executive Council of IQSSL for more than 16 years and as the chairperson of the Board of Quantity Surveying Education and Training of IQSSL for four years. She has also served as the chairperson of the Board of Quantity Surveying Publications of IQSSL. From August 2015, she is serving as a committee member and the continuing professional development (CPD) and education coordinator of the Sri Lanka Division of the International Chapter of AIQS. She is also an APC Assessor of IQSSL and the AIQS. Since 2015, She has been also serving as a member of the Research Committee of the Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS). Prof. Perera is presently serving as a member of the Steering Committee of the Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA). Prof Perera is an active researcher and has widely published in leading journals and conferences in the Built Environment. Her key research interests are in risk management, construction procurement, quantity surveying, facilities management and property development. She has published altogether more than hundred fifty refereed journal articles and conferences papers in these areas.

I. M. Chethana S. Illankoon

Dr I. M. Chethana Illankoon is an Associate Lecturer at School of Architecture and Built Environment in University of Newcastle, Australia. She was awarded the PhD in Engineering in May 2019, from the School of Computing Engineering and Mathematics in Western Sydney University, Australia. Her PhD research focused on life-cycle cost optimization for green buildings in Australia. Her research interests are life-cycle analysis, green buildings, life-cycle cost and sustainable construction. She has published her research work in high impact journals, conference papers and book chapters.