Solar power for Sri Lanka in April

Sri Lanka is reaching a new dawn in its power generation with solar energy being added onto the national grid by April. The entire project in Hambantota is expected to be completed in September by the Power and Energy Ministry.

The project is funded by the Korean and Japanese governments and is located in the Baruthakanda in the Hambantota District. Situated on two acres the project is to be completed in two stages. The solar power plant that is being constructed under the second phase is nearing completion and the Power and Energy Ministry announced in a press release yesterday that it would start supply to the national grid in April.

“This plant is constructed with aid from the Korean government and is capable of generating 500KW of power. Annually it can produce 0.7 GW/h and if this same amount of power was to be generated using fuel it would consume 171, 841 litres and release 391 metric tonnes of carbon. Two hectares of land have been outfitted with solar panels at present,” it said.

Japan is funding the first stage of the project and it will generate 737 MW. Capable of generating one hour of giga watt it would have consumed 262, 546 litres of fuel and released 577 metric tonnes of carbon. This stage will be completed in September.

“This project actively supports Minister Champika Ranawaka’s vision to protect the environment and will help achieve the goal of providing 100% of power to Sri Lanka by 2012,” the statement said.