EFL unveils Sri Lanka’s second-largest rooftop solar powerplant at EFL Campus

HiEnergy Services Managing Director Mohammed Bilal, Expolanka Holdings Group CEO Hanif Yusoof and Deputy Minister of Power and Energy Ajith P. Perera open EFL’s solar powerplant in Wellampitiya

Continuing to deliver on a longstanding commitment to sustainability, EFL opened a solar powerplant in Wellampitiya on 16 November. 

The occasion was marked by a special ceremony attended by Deputy Minister of Power and Energy, Ajith P. Perera, who served as its Chief Guest alongside the senior management of EFL and Expolanka Holdings Plc Group CEO Hanif Yusoof. The Minister inaugurated the Grid-Connected Solar PV Powerplant and commended EFL for taking early steps as a private sector player bringing solutions to Sri Lanka’s energy dilemma. 

With 2,326 solar panels installed, the plant is expected to deliver 78,154 kilowatts hours of energy per month. It has an energy production capacity of 651.28 kWp and has been recognised as the second-largest rooftop solar powerplant in the country. This solar powerplant connected to the national electrical grid will contribute to reducing Sri Lanka’s dependence on other countries for a consistent supply of petroleum and coal to produce electricity thus also easing the outflow of foreign exchange from the country. This is among the few such large-scale corporate contributions to the country’s energy sector and supports the logistics provider’s bid to instill sustainable practices in both enviromental and operational activities. It will also contribute significantly to reducing the company’s greenhouse gas emissions. 

The state-of-the-art fashion and general cargo warehouse located at the EFL logistics campus is also the first LEED Gold Accredited facility of its kind and follows an ISO 14062 certification which the company obtained for developing a framework to quantify and report on their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For the community, the company recently completed its yearly Bulb for a Bulb campaign that replaces incandescent lights in households with LED bulbs free of charge. 

“Our contribution to solar energy generation is a step forward in what we believe is the direction of the future,” said EFL Managing Director Saif Yusoof. “This project ticks all the boxes in our vision for sustainability. We’re also very positive over the outlook for renewable energy in Sri Lanka - as a country we’re very well positioned to harness natural resources for our energy needs.”

Expolanka partnered with HiEnergy Services in delivering the system. HiEnergy is a provider of solar energy solutions with a strong commitment to reducing the electricity dependency of the country on fossil fuels. For EFL, the partnership meant that it had firsthand insight into the energy concerns of the country and areas that could benefit from a private sector player. It was also responding to a call by the Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy for the private sector to contribute to solar power generation in Sri Lanka. Known as Soorya Bala Sangramaya, this project envisions a solar electricity-powered Sri Lanka in the future.

EFL (Expo Freight) is a leading provider of supply chain solutions across 18 countries and over 55 cities. Founded in 1982, EFL is part of the logistics sector of Expolanka Holdings Plc and is ranked among the top five forwarders in the Indian subcontinent and recognised for expertise in fashion logistics.