The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has permitted 90 small-scale solar projects to be tendered under the second stage of the Suryabala Sangramaya Programme.
Following this, Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has also approved the issuing of request for proposals (RfP) for the projects, which will all be 1MW in size.
Try Premium for just $1
- Full premium access for the first month at only $1
- Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
- Cancel anytime during the trial period
Premium Benefits
- Expert industry analysis and interviews
- Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
- Exclusive event discounts
Or get the full Premium subscription right away
Or continue reading this article for free
Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya had promoted the idea of issuing RfPs but with certain amendments to the first stage in order to increase competition. A cap on the number of projects players could bid for in Stage 1 has been lifted.
The Suryabala Sangramaya Programme aims to bring solar power to households, religious places, hotels, commercial establishments and industries across Sri Lanka. It is being implemented by the ministry, CEB and Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA). It is expected to add 200MW of solar electricity to the national grid by 2020 and 1GW by 2025 through this intervention, according to SLSEA.
Last month, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it would provide a US$50 million loan to help fund around 50MW of rooftop solar projects in Sri Lanka.
