Sri Lanka's Agrivoltaic Project Boosts Tea Plantation Sustainability

• Revolutionizing agriculture with solar power: Sri Lanka's first Agrivoltaic project combines energy efficiency with crop growth, benefiting tea plantations and households alike.

Sri Lanka has inaugurated its first Agrivoltaic demonstration project, an 85 kWp project backed by the Asian Development Bank. The project, located in Hanthana – Kandy, features transparent solar panels that allow sunlight to reach crops, benefiting tea plantations and other vegetable crops. The project is expected to generate electricity to power 19 households and contribute to the national grid with a 24 kWh battery energy storage system.

The project also includes a LED lighting system above the tea plants to create a controlled environment for optimal growth, utilizing solar power efficiently and emitting minimal heat. Additionally, a groundwater pump with a borehole arrangement will facilitate water supply for both the tea plants and the nearby estate community. Overall, the project is expected to generate well above 100 MWh of electricity annually, showcasing the potential of Agrivoltaics in Sri Lanka and beyond.

How will Sri Lanka's Agrivoltaic project benefit tea plantations and households?

• The Agrivoltaic project in Sri Lanka will benefit tea plantations by allowing sunlight to reach crops through transparent solar panels, promoting optimal growth and increasing productivity.
  
• The project will also benefit other vegetable crops by providing a controlled environment with LED lighting systems powered by solar energy, reducing heat emissions and maximizing growth potential.
  
• The electricity generated by the project is expected to power 19 households, reducing their reliance on traditional energy sources and lowering electricity costs.
  
• The project will contribute to the national grid with a 24 kWh battery energy storage system, helping to stabilize the grid and support the integration of renewable energy sources.
  
• The inclusion of a groundwater pump with a borehole arrangement will ensure a sustainable water supply for both the tea plants and the nearby estate community, promoting agricultural sustainability in the region.
• Overall, the project is expected to generate well above 100 MWh of electricity annually, demonstrating the potential of Agrivoltaics to benefit both agricultural productivity and energy sustainability in Sri Lanka and beyond.