100 MW floating solar power plant to ease power shortage

A 100 MW floating solar power plant is to be built at the Maduru Oya reservoir with Canadian assistance as a remedy to power outages during drought periods, Power and Energy Minister Ravi Karunanayake said.

He made this revelation following a ceremony organised in connection with the signing of the relevant agreement at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo on Tuesday.

The agreement was signed by the Asian Director of Canadian Commercial Corporation Yvonne Chin and Secretary to the Power and Energy Minister Suren Batagoda in the presence of President Maithripala Sirisena.

Minister Karunanayake noted that 100 MW of solar power could be added to the national grid with the aim of making use of it during the peak hours in the evening and night, minimising the cost of using thermal power plants.

The Cabinet of Ministers last month granted approval for a proposal to build a 100 MW floating solar power plant in the Maduru Oya Reservoir.

Previously, the approval had been granted to act on this proposal as a joint project of the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka, the Ceylon Electricity Board, and the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority.

The government of Canada has proposed to implement this plan as a solar energy storage project using solar panels and batteries which can store electricity.

Accordingly, permission has been granted to establish a joint venture with Canadian Solar Inc and to appoint a joint action committee to conduct discussions on this matter.

This proposal has been presented to the Cabinet jointly by the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment ( President) Sirisena and Minister Karunanayake.

(Bandula)