Sri Lanka Releases Tender for 70 MW Solar Projects

Sri Lanka-government owned Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has issued a tender for the development of ground-mount solar projects for a cumulative capacity of 70 MW. The projects under the Sri Lanka tender will range from a capacity of 1 MW to 5 MW.

The last date for the submission of Sri Lanka tender for 70 MW is December 19, 2023. The letter of award will be issued after Cabinet approval, approximately less than 2.5 months from closing date of submission of proposals.

The successful bidder will enter into 20-year power purchase agreements (PPA) with the CEB. The projects will all be on a build, own and operate (BOO) basis and will be connected to existing grid substations, the Sri Lanka tender for 70 MW of solar project said.

The projects entail the 1 MW (AC) Kurunagala grid substation; the 2 MW (AC) Ampara grid substation; the 2 MW (AC) Habanara grid substation; the 3 MW (AC) Veyangoda grid substation; the 5 MW (AC) Kosgama grid substation; and the 5 MW (AC) Pannala grid substation among others.

Developers must obtain lease-agreements for a period of 22 years for 1.21 hectares per 1 MW of land.

The winning projects that will enter into a 20-year PPA will be awarded the highest tariff of LKR 34.93/kWh ($0.11/kWh).

Applications must include a feasibility study covering costs, technical details, and environmental and archaeological impact. The commercial operation of the plant shall begin two years after the Letter of Award is granted.

As per a report by IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency), the island country boasted installed solar capacity of 714 MW at the end of 2022.

The tender document can be accessed here.

The tender for 70 MW solar projects follows shortly after the announcement of the CEB tender seeking bids for the development of two 100 MW floating solar plants. The said floating projects will be established at the hydroelectric Samanalawewa Reservoir. The solar tender will pave the path for the construction of two 100 MW floating solar plants on the surface of the Reservoir.

The Ceylon Electricity Board is the largest electricity firm of the island country.