Sri Lanka has launched the first project under a national programme designed to add 300 megawatts (MW) of solar power to the country’s electricity grid.
The project was inaugurated in Veyangoda on September 13 under the patronage of Minister of Ports, Civil Aviation and Energy Anura Karunathilaka.
With an installed capacity of 3MW, the Veyangoda facility is the first in a series of ground-mounted solar power projects planned across the country as part of the wider 300MW programme.
The initiative is aimed at increasing the contribution of renewable energy to Sri Lanka’s power supply while reducing the country’s reliance on imported fossil fuels. The Government is also encouraging private-sector involvement in selected areas to speed up the development of renewable energy infrastructure.
Sri Lanka has set a target of obtaining 70% of its energy requirements from renewable sources by 2030, while aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. The country has also committed, in line with the principles of COP26, not to develop new coal-fired power plants.
Alongside the expansion of renewable generation, authorities are working to strengthen the national electricity grid to accommodate increasing amounts of clean energy.
The Veyangoda project has an AC capacity of 3MW and is equipped with 640-watt bifacial solar panels. The panels are designed to generate electricity from both their front and rear surfaces, improving their energy-generation potential.
The facility is expected to supply approximately 6.35 million kilowatt-hours of electricity to the national grid each year.
It is also projected to help reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 4,339.53 metric tons, supporting Sri Lanka’s broader efforts to expand clean energy and reduce its environmental impact.
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