Rs.1.8 Billion Renewable-Energy Project Expected to Generate 19 GWh Annually and Avoid Around 12,000 Tonnes of CO₂

Vidullanka PLC and the David Pieris Group have commissioned a 10 MW solar-power plant in Ranna, adding new renewable-energy capacity to Sri Lanka’s national grid through their joint venture, DPV Solar Energy.

---

Sri Lanka has received a further 10 megawatts of renewable-energy capacity following the commissioning of the DPV Solar Power Plant in Ranna, Hambantota District.

The ground-mounted facility was developed by DPV Solar Energy (Pvt) Ltd., a joint venture between Vidullanka PLC and the David Pieris Group.

The plant was connected and synchronised with the national electricity grid on 23 September 2026. It subsequently commenced commercial electricity supply under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement with the Ceylon Electricity Board.

Its ceremonial inauguration was held on 20 October, with the facility declared open by Energy Deputy Minister Eng. Arkam Ilyas and Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority Director General Eng. Rohana Randombage. www.ft.lk

A Joint Investment in Sri Lanka’s Energy Future

The project has been developed through a partnership between two established Sri Lankan businesses.

Vidullanka holds a 50% equity interest in DPV Solar Energy, while the remaining stake is held by the David Pieris Group. The project represents an investment previously disclosed at approximately Rs.1.8 billion. www.marketscreener.com

Vidullanka was responsible for the project’s engineering, procurement and construction work.

The solar plant incorporates:

• 20,496 solar modules
• 34 inverters
• Two SMART transformer stations
• A newly constructed electricity transmission line
• Supporting infrastructure for supplying electricity to the grid

The completed facility is expected to export approximately 19 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually while avoiding an estimated 12,000 tonnes of carbon-dioxide emissions each year. www.ft.lk

From Sunlight to the National Grid

Vidullanka’s Largest Ground-Mounted Solar Development

The Ranna facility is the largest ground-mounted solar project developed by Vidullanka to date.

Its commissioning takes the company’s solar portfolio to eight projects with a combined capacity of 46 MW, according to the company information reported at the inauguration. www.ft.lk

The project also expands Vidullanka’s domestic renewable-energy operations and provides another source of recurring revenue under a long-term electricity-purchasing arrangement.

For the David Pieris Group, the project represents diversification into national renewable-energy infrastructure through its partnership with an experienced power developer.

Potential Battery Storage at the Ranna Plant

The project could eventually include a battery-energy-storage system intended to improve the management of electricity generated during daylight hours.

DPV Solar Energy has been selected as a successful bidder for an allocation involving a proposed 4.9 MW/25 MWh battery-energy-storage system at the Ranna plant.

The proposed battery system would be intended to:

• Store surplus solar electricity
• Reduce possible energy curtailment
• Improve the timing of electricity supplied to the grid
• Support grid stability
• Increase the practical value of intermittent solar generation

However, the battery component must not yet be presented as a fully awarded or operational project.

At the time of reporting, it remained subject to the completion of technical evaluations and the receipt of a formal Letter of Award.

Partnership Extends to Wind-Power Development

The renewable-energy partnership between the two groups is not limited to the Ranna solar project.

The consortium has also been selected as the lowest-cost bidder for Lot 2 of the proposed 50 MW Mullikulam wind-power project, according to information released in connection with the solar-plant commissioning. www.ft.lk

The future wind project should nevertheless be treated separately from the operating Ranna facility. Selection through a tender does not necessarily mean that construction or commercial operation has commenced.

Why the Ranna Project Matters

Unlike renewable-energy proposals that remain at the planning or tender stage, the Ranna plant has reached commercial grid connection.

This makes it a measurable addition to Sri Lanka’s electricity-generating system.

The development is significant because it:

• Adds 10 MW of renewable-energy capacity
• Increases privately developed clean-energy infrastructure
• Provides an estimated 19 GWh of electricity annually
• Supports the reduction of power-sector carbon emissions
• Demonstrates collaboration between two Sri Lankan businesses
• Includes infrastructure connecting the project to the national grid
• Creates a possible pathway towards battery-supported solar generation

Solar generation can vary with weather conditions and the time of day. Battery storage and stronger transmission infrastructure could therefore become increasingly important as Sri Lanka adds more variable renewable energy to its electricity system.

A Private-Sector Contribution to the Energy Transition

The Ranna project demonstrates how partnerships between Sri Lankan businesses can contribute to national infrastructure development.

Vidullanka has provided renewable-energy development and engineering experience, while the David Pieris Group has participated as an equity partner through the joint-venture company.

The result is an operating facility supplying electricity under a long-term commercial agreement.

The next major point to monitor will be whether the proposed battery-storage allocation receives its formal award and advances towards implementation.

For now, the confirmed story is clear: a Rs.1.8 billion, 10 MW solar facility has moved beyond construction and entered commercial service, increasing the renewable electricity available to Sri Lanka’s national grid.