Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardane yesterday said that at present, about 580 megawatts have been added to the national grid through the system of solar power plants installed on roofs. He was speaking at the weekly cabinet media briefing held yesterday at the Government Information Department.
According to the long-term Generation Expansion Plan prepared by the Electricity Board, it has identified the need to obtain another 1800 MW of electrical capacity through this. A committee has been appointed to revise the electricity purchase rates from approved solar power plants as an incentive. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara to revise the rates in accordance with the recommendation of the said Committee.
Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera in a tweet said that the Cabinet approval has been granted to revise Roof Top Solar Tariff Rates.
However the Minister said the new tariff rates will be applied Only to New Roof Top Solar Systems.”There will be no change of rates for already signed Power Purchasing Agreements and systems in use,”he said.
“Two tier current tariff rate of Rs. 22 and Rs. 15.50 will be revised to a flat rate of Rs. 37 for less than 500KW and Rs.34.50 for above 500KW Roof Top Solar for 20 years. Tariffs will be adjusted annually based on a formula,” the Minister tweeted.