March 01, Colombo (LNW): In a major breakthrough, Peradeniya University’s Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Department, led by Senior Professor Janaka Ekanayake, has successfully implemented a pioneering project that utilizes semi-transparent solar panels on tea plantations. Covering an area of 800 square meters within a tea estate near the Hanthana Research and Training Center, this initiative is set to generate approximately 100 megawatts of electricity annually. The inauguration of Sri Lanka’s inaugural semi-transparent solar-powered agriculture-integrated pilot project took place on the 29th, under the auspices of State Minister Lohan Ratwatte and in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Power and Energy Ministry (MOPE), and the Plantation Industries Ministry (MOPI). The ADB contributed a grant of US dollars 250,000 towards this groundbreaking venture. Professor Janaka Ekanayake highlighted the global precedence of such projects, emphasizing that this marks Sri Lanka’s debut in implementing a venture of this nature. Beyond its significance in the realm of sustainable energy, the project aims to address challenges faced by the agriculture sector in a land-stressed country like Sri Lanka, contributing to both energy security and agricultural sustainability. Exploring future possibilities, Professor Ekanayake revealed plans to extend the project to tomato and bell pepper cultivations, with ongoing experiments being conducted at Peradeniya University.