Data obtained from Gessey New Energy Info (GNEI), a leading solar consulting company, indicates that the majority of Solar Panels used in Sri Lanka are manufactured by five globally-renowned solar manufacturers. Among them, JinkoSolar is ranked number 1, followed by JA, Trina, Sumec, and CanadianSolar ranked numbers 2 to 5 respectively. The top 5 module manufacturers accounted for 90% of the total shipment of Solar PV modules to Sri Lanka in 2020.

Solar Panel Shipments to Sri Lanka in 2020

Since 2016, the Sri Lankan government has been focusing on promoting renewable energy with the implementation of the renewable energy policy “Soorya Bala Sangramaya”(Battle for Solar Energy). During the first phase, this policy enabled the development of more than 200MW of rooftop solar systems by 2020 with the aim of developing 1000MW of rooftop solar projects by 2025. This was followed by multiple tenders totaling to 320MW of ground-mounted solar projects. While the first phase led to the rapid deployment of rooftop solar projects, the second phase helped promote larger ground-mounted projects. For the next phase, the government plans to build two 100MW solar power plants in Pooneryn and Siyambalanduwa areas. 

According to GNEI due to strong government support, over 120MW of solar panels were installed in 2020. Of this 120MW, JinkoSolar supplied over 42MW of panels for roof top and ground-mounted projects, which amount to 35% of market share and was the first PV module manufacturer to deploy 500W+ solar panels in Sri Lanka. Dr. Priyantha Wijesooriya, the founding President of the Solar Industries Association of Sri Lanka (SIA- SL) and a pioneer of the Sri Lankan solar industry, stated that “Jinko has been the global leader in terms of shipment volume and also in terms of durability and superior performance. Most Sri Lankan solar buyers are quality-conscious and expect high performance, whilst seeking value for money. Thus, JinkoSolar’s dominance in the local market is indicative of its excellent product quality and brand awareness. Most products in the lower price range compromise on the Bill of Materials and end up using lower quality solar cells, backsheet and other materials”. As large PV manufacturers have set ambitious shipment targets for 2021, the smaller manufacturers will struggle amid an increasingly competitive market in Sri Lanka.