Wednesday Jul 22, 2026
Wednesday Jul 22, 2026
Friday, 26 June 2026 16:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
(From Left to Right)
Mr. Joey Zheng, (General Sales Manager - Suntech), Dr. Lakmal Fernando (MD/CEO - Regen Renewables), Mr. Yang Jianliang (Chairman - Suntech Power), Mr. Champika Periyapperuma (Director/CTO - Regen Renewables), Mr. Vincent Cao (CEO - Suntech Power)
MUNICH / COLOMBO, June 2026 — When the world’s leading minds in renewable energy converged on Munich for The Smarter E Europe 2026, Sri Lanka had a seat at the table. Lakmal Fernando, MD/CEO and Champika Periyapperuma CTO, founders of Regen Renewables (Pvt) Ltd., representing Sri Lanka’s growing clean energy sector, attended the landmark trade fair as guests of Suntech, one of the industry’s most respected technology brands.
The Smarter E Europe, held annually in Munich, is widely regarded as the continent’s most significant platform for the renewable energy industry. This year’s edition drew thousands of exhibitors and visitors from across the globe, showcasing breakthroughs in solar power, intelligent panels, energy storage, grid technology, and sustainable mobility.
The smarter E Europe 2026, held from June 23 25, 2026, at Messe München, featured four major exhibitions and extensive conference programs.
“It was much more than just new products. It was about how we can make the future energy supply more efficient, smarter, and more sustainable — and that is exactly why we were there.” — Lakmal Fernando, MD/CEO of Regen Renewables.
At the heart of the experience was Suntech’s exhibition booth, celebrating 25 years in the industry, with Regen Renewables (Pvt) Ltd. as a proud partner for 14 years. The company has put on display the very best in high-performance technology, innovative energy solutions, and forward-looking answers to the challenges of the global energy transition. The booth offered Fernando and Periyapperuma a rare, hands-on window into technologies that are already reshaping electricity grids across Europe and beyond.
Agri-PV and the Virtual Central Inverter: A Game-Changer for Sri Lanka
Among the standout sessions at the fair was an expert presentation on the Virtual Central Inverter — a breakthrough concept that is transforming the economics and efficiency of large-scale photovoltaic (PV) installations.
The presentation demonstrated how virtual central inverters bring new levels of flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and operational efficiency to agri-PV projects, which combine agricultural land use with solar energy generation.
For Sri Lanka, where agricultural land is precious and energy demand is surging, the agri-PV model presents a compelling opportunity. The ability to generate clean electricity without displacing farming activity could offer a practical pathway toward rural energy independence while safeguarding food production — a dual benefit that aligns squarely with Sri Lanka’s national development priorities.
Smart Storage and Grid-Forming Technology: Building Resilience
Beyond agri-PV, the Sri Lankan delegation gained firsthand exposure to smart energy storage systems and grid-forming inverter technology — two pillars of the modern energy grid that are increasingly critical as nations move away from fossil fuels. Grid-forming inverters, in particular, represent a quantum leap in how renewable energy sources can stabilise power networks, a capability with direct relevance to Sri Lanka’s ongoing efforts to integrate higher volumes of solar and wind generation into its national grid.
A Milestone for Sri Lanka’s Energy Future
The participation of Fernando and Periyapperuma at The Smarter E Europe 2026 marks a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s engagement with the global clean energy community. By strengthening the direct connections with industry leaders such as Suntec, Sunways, DasSolar, KACO New Energy and Siemens, the Sri Lankan energy sector is now better positioned than ever to adopt world-class solutions tailored to the country’s unique geography, climate, and energy needs.
As Sri Lanka charts its course toward a cleaner, more resilient energy future, missions such as this one demonstrate that the island nation is not merely watching the global energy transition unfold — it is actively participating in shaping it.
