Sri Lanka Begins 300MW Solar Drive With First Ground-Mounted Project
September 14, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has taken its first major step towards a planned 300MW expansion of solar generation, with the country’s inaugural project under the programme commissioned in Veyangoda on Sunday (13).
The 3MW facility was officially inaugurated under the patronage of Ports, Civil Aviation and Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka, marking the beginning of a wider rollout of ground-mounted solar installations at locations across the island.
The programme is intended to increase the contribution of renewable energy to the national grid while helping Sri Lanka reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels. Authorities are also seeking greater involvement from private investors in selected renewable energy projects as part of efforts to speed up the transition to cleaner power.
The Veyangoda installation is equipped with high-efficiency 640-watt bifacial solar modules, designed to capture sunlight on both sides of each panel. With an AC capacity of 3MW, the facility is expected to produce around 6.35 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.
Officials estimate that the project will also prevent approximately 4,339.53 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year, adding an environmental benefit to its contribution to the national power supply.
The latest development comes as Sri Lanka pursues an ambitious renewable-energy agenda. The Government has set a target of generating 70% of the country’s electricity requirements from renewable sources by 2030, followed by an ambition to reach carbon neutrality by 2040.
As part of that policy direction, Sri Lanka has also pledged not to introduce new coal-fired power plants, in keeping with the principles associated with the COP26 climate commitments.
Alongside expanding generation capacity, authorities are progressively upgrading the national electricity transmission network to ensure it can handle increasing volumes of intermittent renewable power.
The Veyangoda project therefore represents more than a standalone solar installation, with the Government positioning it as the starting point for a broader expansion of clean-energy infrastructure across Sri Lanka.
The post Sri Lanka Begins 300MW Solar Drive With First Ground-Mounted Project appeared first on LNW Lanka News Web.
