Generating electricity using semi-transparent solar panels on tea plantations has achieved successful results.
Peradeniya University’s Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Department’s Senior Professor Janaka Ekanayake said that this project implemented on 800 square meters in a tea estate adjacent to the Hanthana Research and Training Center, can generate about 100 megawatts of electricity per year. The Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Power and Energy Ministry (MOPE) and the Plantation Industries Ministry (MOPI) jointly inaugurated Sri Lanka’s first semi-transparent solar-powered agriculture-integrated pilot project yesterday (29) under the patronage of State Minister Lohan Ratwatte.
The Asian Development Bank has given US dollars 250,000 as a grant for this. Prof.Janaka Ekanayake said that such projects are being implemented in the world and this is the first time that such a project has started in Sri Lanka. The new project has the opportunity to address both issues of achieving energy security and overcoming agricultural challenges in a land-stressed country like Sri Lanka.
Professor Ekanayake said that there is a possibility to implement this project in tomato and bell pepper cultivations and the Peradeniya University is conducting related experiments.
Asela Kuruluwansa