Hayleys Solar has been selected to implement Sri Lanka’s first Solar Agrivoltaics Project, a groundbreaking initiative designed and funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). By integrating solar energy generation with agricultural cultivation, the project marks a significant step forward in the country’s efforts to promote sustainable energy and farming practices.
Solar Agrivoltaics Over Tea Plantations
The Solar Agrivoltaics Project takes an innovative approach, installing semi-transparent solar photovoltaic (PV) technology above tea plantations. A collaboration between the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA), the Tea Smallholders Development Authority (TSHDA), the University of Peradeniya, and Hayleys Solar, the project is located at the Hanthana Ratnasiri Wickramanayake National Training Centre in Kandy.
As part of this unique agri solar scheme, 85 kWp hybrid semi-transparent solar panels have been installed two meters above the tea plantation. Agrivoltaics—a combination of agriculture and photovoltaics—allows for both solar electricity generation and crop harvesting on the same land. The transparent panels allow sunlight to reach the tea plants beneath while generating clean, renewable energy. This dual-purpose approach not only optimizes land use but also holds the potential to revolutionize the clean energy and agricultural sectors in Sri Lanka.
Innovative Solar Agrivoltaics Project Powers 19 Homes
The Solar Agrivoltaics Project generates enough electricity for 19 households and is supported by a 24-kWh battery energy storage system that feeds into the national grid. Powered by these agrivoltaics solar panels, the facility also features an LED lighting system above the tea plants to enhance growth by providing targeted light spectrums. A groundwater pump system supplies water to the tea plants and the nearby community, bolstering agricultural sustainability.
This combination of solar energy and agriculture addresses critical issues in Sri Lanka, including energy security and productivity. By using the same land for both energy generation and farming, the initiative exemplifies how innovative technology can meet multiple societal needs. Its success could lead to applications in other regions, extending the benefits to a wider range of crops and communities.
Transforming Sri Lanka’s Agriculture with Solar Agrivoltaics
Janaka Ekanayake, a professor of forestry and environmental management at the University of Peradeniya, highlights the project’s potential to address national issues of energy security and agricultural transformation. “Sri Lanka heavily relies on fossil fuels and has difficulties in the agricultural sector,” he notes. “The Solar Agrivoltaics Project generates more than 100 MWh of electricity a year, replacing fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gases. It also improves the use of multifunctional land resources.”
Image: Collected
The success of this project could extend to other crops, such as vanilla, tomatoes, and bell peppers, offering broad benefits to Sri Lanka’s farming industry. Funded by the ADB and the Ministry of Power and Energy (MOPE), the initiative underscores the strategic potential of integrating renewable energy with agriculture to solve multiple societal challenges. This adaptability offers a new dimension to sustainable farming.
By leveraging this model, Sri Lanka could enhance food production while contributing to global efforts to reduce carbon emissions. More than just an isolated initiative, the Solar Agrivoltaics Project serves as a blueprint for sustainable development that could be replicated across the country and beyond.
A Global Model for Solar Agrivoltaics
The Solar Agrivoltaics Project in Sri Lanka sets a global example for combining sustainable energy with agriculture. It serves as a model for other countries—particularly in Europe and North and Central America, where medium-scale agrivoltaics could unleash the technology’s full potential. The project is a testament to the power of cross-ministerial collaboration between the Sri Lankan government, private sector, and academic institutions, paving the way for similar initiatives worldwide.
Hayleys Solar’s involvement in this pioneering project marks another significant step in Sri Lanka’s renewable energy journey. The success of this million-dollar initiative could spur further research and development in agrivoltaics and lead to high-quality demonstrations that inspire similar efforts.
As it progresses, the project could serve as a model for future agrivoltaic installations not only in Sri Lanka but across Asia and beyond. This combination of solar energy and agriculture offers a sustainable solution to the challenges of land use, energy production, and food security. Its success demonstrates the viability of agrivoltaics as a global template for sustainable development, encouraging similar initiatives in countries facing the same challenges.
Continued development and refinement of this technology could further enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of these systems, making them even more attractive to governments, businesses, and communities. As more agrivoltaic projects are implemented worldwide, their collective impact on global energy and food systems could be transformative, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future.
