From left: Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Hayley Group Chairman/CEO Mohan Pandithage, Power and Renewable Energy Deputy Minister Ajith Perera

Hayleys Group PLC, jointly with Windforce Pvt Ltd recently announced the commissioning of their solar power plant located in Welikande in the Polonnaruwa district.

The 10 mega watt (MW) solar plant has been installed with a solar tracking system that will follow the sun’s rays to ensure an incrementally higher yield of approximately 20 percent energy, than the fixed tilt system. 

At full capacity, the plant could contribute 22,000 MW hours to the national grid plus generate enough electricity for roughly 10,000 homes.

The solar plant is funded by the Hayleys Group and Windforce Private Ltd and was built within a five-month period was declared open by the Minister of Power and Renewable Energy Ranjith Siyambalapitiya in the presence of a distinguished gathering that included Deputy Minister of Power and Renewable Energy, Ajith Perera and Chairman and Chief Executive, Hayleys Group, Mohan Pandithage, Managing Director, Windforce Pvt Ltd, Asgi Akbarally, along with the leadership and management of Hayleys and Windforce.

“This is a momentous occasion for us as well as the entire Country. We are happy to dedicate this plant to the nation. A plant of this magnitude reinstates the country’s ambition of transforming itself to a green energy producer and we at Hayleys take pride in doing our part towards this” Hayleys Group Chairman Mohan Pandithage said. 

“Through renewable sources such as this, we could significantly bring down the per household cost of electricity, while adhering and aligning ourselves to the government’s energy policy and plan of meeting the Country’s total demand from renewable sources” added Pandithage.

The new plant will help nudge Sri Lanka’s total installed non-conventional renewable capacity across the 500 MW mark, of which Hayleys Group’s installed capacity of renewable energy alone in wind, hydro and solar, crosses the 50MW mark, according to Dr Arul Sivagananathan, Managing Director, Hayleys Aventura. 

The group, Hayleys, plans to obtain carbon credits for this project in partnership with Sri Lanka Climate Fund.  A scheme will be set up whereby local businesses and corporates could obtain accreditation to offset their carbon footprint. 

As solar power increases, Sri Lanka is expected to become self sufficient in renewable energy sources by 2030, according to Sri Lanka’s energy sector development plan. 

Solar power generation plants have been praised by environmental groups as it generates clean energy. While reducing the impact of the problem of air quality, green resource can reduce the import of oil to our Country and most importantly, keep average costs of electricity down.