DIMO ENERGY
With an emphasis on accelerating the adoption of renewable energy, Sri Lanka has ambitious plans to achieve its sustainable green development agenda. Sri Lanka’s government has committed to an ambitious goal of fulfilling 70 percent of the country’s power requirements through renewable energy by 2030. This commitment serves as a crucial step towards ensuring energy security and uplifting the nation’s overall efforts in sustainable development.
Additionally, the prospect of exporting surplus renewable energy to neighbouring countries presents a promising avenue for expansion. Collaborative efforts between Sri Lanka and its vicinal nations to establish cross border energy connections pave the way for large-scale projects that can bolster the region’s energy security while fostering collective economic growth.
This transition presents myriad opportunities, particularly in solar, wind and hydro power generation. However, accommodating the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources necessitates significant upgrades to the national grid, says Wijith Pushpawela – an Executive Director of DIMO, and the Director in Charge of the group’s power and energy arm DIMO Energy.
In response to the evolving energy landscape, DIMO Energy, alongside other key industry stakeholders, is strategically poised to spearhead grid infrastructure initiatives that are crucial in enabling the seamless integration of renewable energy sources into the power grid and propelling collective efforts towards a sustainable energy future.
Operating across three key pillars – high-voltage power solutions, medium and low-voltage power solutions, as well as renewable energy solutions – DIMO Energy offers a comprehensive range of products and solutions, which spans the electrical, power and energy sectors, while continuously expanding its product portfolio to meet evolving industry needs.
The company’s contribution to developing nearly 70 percent of the nation’s grid substations merits significant recognition, serving as a testimony to its expertise and invaluable contribution to the upliftment of the country’s energy infrastructure, Pushpawela adds.
An integral component of DIMO Energy’s growth strategy is anchored in horizontal expansion, characterised by penetrating new markets and reaching diverse customer segments.
Offering more insights into this, he explains: “Our strategic foray into manufacturing low-voltage switchboards for power distribution in collaboration with Siemens is one striking exemplar of our dedication to innovation. We have invested in a specialised factory for manufacturing switchboards produced under Siemens’ licence. This initiative, launched in early January of this year, has already made considerable strides, witnessing a significant surge in demand for these panels with exports reaching neighbouring countries.”
With this initiative, the company is advancing its global footprint, having initiated operations in the Maldives as a starting point, with further plans to extend exports to other developing nations in the near future.
Furthermore, the organisation is actively engaged in investing within the renewable energy sector with ongoing projects amounting to close to Rs. 6 billion. These investments are strategically directed towards the development of new renewable energy initiatives with a particular emphasis on solar energy projects that will be seamlessly integrated into the national grid, thereby advancing the country’s renewable energy goals.
Over the years, the organisation has cultivated robust partnerships with industry leaders, facilitating numerous projects within the power sector. Through strategic collaboration with Siemens, the renowned German multinational technology conglomerate, DIMO Energy has enhanced its capabilities across various points of Sri Lanka’s power supply chain. This collaboration has endowed DIMO Energy with invaluable experience and fortified its supply chain, transforming it into a comprehensive one stop shop solution provider for infrastructure development projects.
DIMO Energy broadened its network of alliances to include OBO Bettermann, one of the leading manufacturers of installation systems for the electro-technical equipment of buildings and systems, encompassing products such as cable management systems, lightning protection systems and more.
In collaboration with OBO, the company has further diversified its offerings and solidified its position as the nation’s preferred supplier for all high, medium and low-voltage products and services, serving both the private and public sectors.
Propelling its expansion into new markets, the company has strengthened its supply chain by developing robust in-house capabilities. Leveraging the expertise and experience acquired in Sri Lanka, DIMO Energy has successfully secured projects from neighbouring nations, affirming its promising trajectory in contributing to the development of global energy infrastructure beyond national borders.
DIMO Energy’s operational framework is anchored on several key pillars, the foremost being partnerships and collaborations. With established strategic alliances already in place, the organisation continues to further nurture collaborations with suppliers, technology partners, governmental entities, industry associations and research institutions.
These alliances enable the organisation to adeptly address the nation’s evolving needs within the power and energy domain.
DIMO fosters close collaboration with esteemed partners including technological powerhouses and consulting agencies to deliver bespoke solutions aligned with the strategic objectives of its clientele.
“Customer centricity lies at the core of our strategic ethos. By comprehensively understanding the unique and diverse preferences and requirements of our clients, our primary objective is to develop customised solutions that precisely align with the unique demands of each client rather than providing standardised products or services,” Pushpawela adds.
The company’s overarching vision is firmly rooted in sustainability, emphasising the integration of environmentally conscious practices into every facet of its operations to ensure enduring growth and resilience.
DIMO’s Sustainability Agenda includes the ambitious target of deriving 50 percent of revenue from sustainable products and services by 2030. DIMO Energy has strategically aligned its revenue streams, investments, acquisitions and diversification efforts with this objective in mind.
The organisation also prioritises digitalisation efforts, recognising the role digital transformation plays in enhancing productivity and efficiency across industries, particularly within Sri Lanka’s manufacturing sector.
In appraising the outlook ahead, DIMO Energy is positioned to pursue growth opportunities through several key initiatives. To begin with, DIMO places a strong emphasis on human capital development to ensure that the organisation’s workforce is well prepared to undertake and effectively deliver large-scale projects. This commitment to skill enhancement is deemed essential for executing future endeavours efficiently.
Moreover, recognising the importance of sustainable energy solutions to align with government environmental objectives and address the country’s increasing energy demands, DIMO Energy ensures that significant resources are being directed towards the implementation of solar and other renewable energy projects. By prioritising renewable energy, the company seeks to contribute to Sri Lanka’s transition towards a greener and more sustainable energy landscape.
Furthermore, the company is keen on the opportunity to recommence halted development initiatives by both governmental entities and esteemed power utility partners such as Lanka Electricity Company (LECO), which had previously been delayed owing to a range of challenges. With the resumption of these projects on the horizon, the company has identified ample opportunities to leverage its expertise and collaborate with stakeholders to drive progress in Sri Lanka’s power sector.
The global power and energy landscape is at a pivotal juncture in terms of adopting new energy sources, innovating energy delivery methods and exploring novel energy applications. Sri Lanka ought to stand poised to align with a zero carbon future, leveraging its demographic profile, economic dynamics and existing energy infrastructure.
While Sri Lanka has made significant strides in electrifying households, the focus now shifts to improving supply reliability, minimising fluctuations and mitigating interruptions while maintaining energy costs at manageable levels for consumers, Pushpawela explains.
Through strategic collaborations, a proficient workforce, expert knowledge and access to cutting-edge technologies, DIMO Energy asserts its position at the forefront of innovation in the power sector.
Firmly committed to advancing Sri Lanka’s vision of providing accessible, high quality and reliable power to all citizens, the organisation will continue to lead the way in meeting the growing demand for efficient and eco-friendly energy supply and delivery solutions in its overarching purpose of ‘fuelling the dreams and aspirations’ of the communities it serves while ‘powering the future.’
