The National Thermal Power Corporation of India and the Ceylon Electricity Board have agreed to work together on a solar power project in two stages, according to a statement from the Cabinet meeting this week. While Sri Lanka concentrates on renewable energy sources, India and Sri Lanka will collaborate to gradually construct a 135 MW solar power project in Trincomalee’s port sector. The project has received approval from the Sri Lankan government since the nation wants to provide 70% of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2030.
The largest energy conglomerate in India, NTPC, was founded in 1975 with the goal of accelerating India’s electricity growth. Since then, it has firmly established itself as the main power player in the sector, functioning throughout the whole value chain of the power generation sector. It has the desired goal of becoming the world’s largest and best powerhouse. The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is the largest company in Sri Lanka in the sector of electricity. It has the goal of maintaining and developing a coordinated, efficient, and economical system of supplying electricity to the whole of Sri Lanka while adhering to the company’s core values. Both companies have agreed to complete the solar power project in two phases.
Within two years, a 50 MW solar power plant with a total expenditure of $42.5 million is anticipated to be implemented as part of the project’s first phase. Moreover, a 40-km-long, 220-kilowatt transmission line from Sampur to Kappalthurai will be built. This transmission line is apparently expected to cost $23.6 million. In the second stage of this project, a solar power generation plant with an additional 85 megawatts is anticipated to be built for a total expenditure of USD 72 million. It has also been planned to construct a 76-kilometer transmission line from Kappalthurai to New Habarana with a capacity of 220 kilovolts to transport the power generated during phase two of the project. 42 million dollars is the planned estimated cost.
By operating and enabling power generation projects using solar and wind power, including coastal wind and biomass, the Indian government has indicated its commitment to developing and strengthening collaboration in the renewable energy industry. Together with private and state entrepreneurs from India and Sri Lanka, India would also offer ongoing infrastructure transmission in regions where it has been mutually agreed upon in Sri Lanka, particularly in the provinces of the north and south.
