Sri Lankan Households Can Sell Solar Power to Ceylon Electricity Board. Pilot Project for Domestic Net Metering Started

28th July 2010, www.dailymirror.lk, By Sumaiya Rizvi

For the first time in Sri Lanka domestic solar power energy could now be sold to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) as a pilot project of the Net metering system, Minister of Power and Energy Patali Champika Ranawaka said yesterday.

“If there is an excess in the domestically produced solar power they can sell it to the CEB and if they have a shortage they will be automatically provided with electricity by the CEB,” said the minister.

The thin solar films have the capacity to generate 4.5 Kilowatts or electricity with a maximum of 23 units and a minimum of 12 units, Minister Ranawaka said. The net metering system in place at the house of industrialist B.A. Mahipala is the first of its kind and was done at a cost of Rs. 17 lakhs, the Ministry said.

The Power and Energy Minister added that households have to bear the installation cost of the net metering system and the solar paneling.

Image: Minister of Power and Energy Champika Ranawaka with house owner Mr. B.A. Mahipala inaugurating the domestic net metering system yesterday, where domestic solar power energy could be sold to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). Pic by Indraratna Balasuriya.