Home-grown Hayleys Fentons leads Sri Lanka’s renewable energy revolution

Thursday, 29 May 2025 05:54 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Hayleys Fentons’ HayWind partners CEB for 50MW Mannar wind farm at record-low tariff 40% below market rate
To be operationalised in 18 months, the BOO project supports Sri Lanka’s 70% renewable energy target with 10 modern turbines
Hayleys Fentons Managing Director Hasith Prematillake says reduces fossil fuel reliance, saves foreign exchange, and builds on Hayleys’ 300MW solar leadership

By Janani Kandaramage

In an effort towards revolutionising Sri Lanka’s renewable energy landscape, HayWind – the wind energy arm of Hayleys Fentons – yesterday officially partnered with the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to launch Sri Lanka’s largest private investment in wind power: a 50 Megawatt (MW) wind farm in Mannar.

The Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was formally signed yesterday at the Energy Ministry, cementing the country’s commitment to renewable energy independence and environmental sustainability.

Outlining its origins, Hayleys Fentons Managing Director Hasith Prematillake said the contract was awarded to HayWind through a competitive tender process, securing the project at an exceptionally low rate of just $ 0.0465 per kilowatt-hour – nearly 40% below the prevailing market prices at the time.

Slated for operations within 18 months, the project will feature 10 cutting-edge wind turbines, each with a generation capacity of approximately 5 MW each. Developed under a Build, Own, and Operate (BOO) framework, the wind farm is poised to supply cost-effective and zero-emission electricity to the national grid, substantially diminishing the nation’s hyper dependence on fossil fuels and advancing Sri Lanka’s ambition to derive 70% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030.

“The CEB will purchase the electricity, enabling long-term cost savings for both the utility and consumers,” he noted.

Discussing Hayleys dedication to clean energy, the Hayleys Fentons Managing Director commended its leadership in solar energy via Hayleys Solar. “Having already contributed 300 MW out of Sri Lanka’s total 1,500 MW of solar capacity, Hayleys Solar commands a 20% market share. Additional to their current achievements, we have also been awarded around another 150-200 MW of solar projects, solidifying its position as a major player in the renewable energy sector, “he opined.

He added that the initiative marks Hayleys Fentons’ strategic foray into wind energy through its newly formed subsidiary, HayWind – broadening the company’s footprint within Sri Lanka’s renewable energy sector and reinforcing its commitment to a diversified, sustainable energy portfolio.

Commenting on the significance of the Mannar wind farm, he remarked that this step signals Sri Lanka’s shift from imported fossil fuels, crucial amid foreign exchange constraints. By leveraging on the untapped potential of local wind power, HayWind helps conserve capital by cutting costs, ensures stability in electricity pricing, and limits exposure to global fuel volatility.

Globally, wind and solar now comprise 3.4 million MW of the world’s 4.5 million MW of renewable energy capacity – a figure expected to rise to 9.2 million MW by 2030, according to global energy forecasts. Projects like the Mannar wind farm not only support national goals but reflect a broader global momentum towards sustainable energy futures.

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