Sri Lanka adds more than 1,500 MW of solar capacity in two years

Sri Lanka has added more than 1,500 megawatts of solar power capacity to its electricity system over the past two years as the government expands renewable energy generation, Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka said on Sunday.

Addressing a press conference at the Government Information Department, Karunathilaka said about 1,141 megawatts of rooftop solar and around 370 megawatts of ground-mounted solar had been added during the period.

He said total rooftop solar capacity had now reached about 2,542 megawatts, while ground-mounted solar capacity stood at around 534 megawatts.

By October 2024, rooftop solar capacity stood at about 1,400.9 megawatts, while ground-mounted solar accounted for 163.4 megawatts, he said.

Karunathilaka said the government planned to continue expanding solar generation over the next three years.

Under updated generation plans, Sri Lanka expects to add another 500 megawatts of rooftop solar and 642 megawatts of ground-mounted solar, along with additional capacity from large-scale projects, he said.

The minister said the government was also developing other renewable energy sources, including floating solar and wind power, as part of a broader effort to increase renewable generation capacity.