Roshane Perera on the Hayleys Solar mission to foster renewables in Sri Lanka

Roshane Perera, Chief Executive and Director of Hayleys Solar, shares insights into the pivotal shifts in the Sri Lankan energy sector and the enabling role of the company in supporting the transition to renewables. He begins with an overview of the renewable energy landscape, the factors shining its future, and the strategic position of Hayleys Solar in the industry.

Sri Lanka primarily uses hydropower as a renewable energy source, making up about 29% of the energy mix. Coal and diesel contribute around 49%. Non-conventional renewable energy sources like solar and wind power provide approximately 16%.

The government targets 70% renewable energy by 2030, supported by a Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) roadmap detailing contributions from rooftop solar, utility-scale projects, and necessary grid enhancements. Notably, Sri Lanka is phasing out fossil fuels, with no plans for new diesel or coal plants, though LNG remains an option.

Sri Lanka has surpassed 1,000MW in solar installations, contributing significantly to the national energy mix. With 250MW under Hayleys Solar, the company is the largest solar EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) among registered solar EPCs in Sri Lanka. As the nation approaches its 2030 renewable goals, Hayleys Solar aims to expand its share, playing a critical role in the energy transition.

What are the biggest opportunities for Sri Lankan businesses adopting renewable energy?

The biggest challenge Sri Lankan businesses face is fluctuating energy security. Unpredictable energy prices make long-term planning difficult, especially since electricity is a significant part of production costs. Additionally, concerns about the availability of grid power and the risk of power cuts add to the uncertainty.

Hayleys Solar addresses these challenges by offering solar power solutions that stabilize energy costs for up to 20 years, allowing businesses to strategize confidently. By integrating solar systems with generators or large-scale lithium-ion batteries, Hayleys Solar ensures uninterrupted power supply even during outages, reducing dependency on the grid and eliminating the need for diesel generators.

Moreover, the anticipated introduction of power wheeling will further benefit large-scale operations by allowing them to offset their energy usage by investing in solar systems elsewhere, potentially achieving net-zero status. Hayleys Solar, with its advanced technology and deep expertise, is well-positioned to help businesses seize emerging opportunities like these and more.

How is Hayleys Solar supporting efforts to transition into renewables like solar energy?

Hayleys Solar has consistently held a 25% market share in the solar energy sector, by educating the market and driving its growth. We have played a pivotal role in informing customers about the long-term benefits of solar energy, including the reliability and 25-year warranties that come with our products, which builds confidence in this significant investment. By partnering with financial institutions and banks, we offer flexible schemes to make solar power affordable and accessible, complemented by our ATL, BTL and TTL promotional campaigns.

We have invested heavily in talent development to support the transition to solar energy, employing over 575 top professionals and engineers, with an additional 1,000 staff and installers. We focus on training these professionals, many of whom are young graduates from local universities and technical colleges, equipping them with the latest knowledge and skills to manage and maintain solar systems. This dedication ensures a well-prepared workforce capable of driving the renewable energy agenda forward.

While some of our highly skilled engineers leave to work abroad due to the great demand for their skills, with the exposure and opportunities Hayleys Solar offers, including opportunities for ongoing professional development and involvement in larger projects, our engineers become highly sought after globally.

What is your approach to innovation and technology integration?

Innovation at Hayleys Solar is about staying ahead by integrating the latest global technologies into the local market. We continuously monitor global advancements and quickly introduce cutting-edge solutions to Sri Lanka, such as one of the largest battery installations in the country, initially with a 2-megawatt-hour capacity. More recently, we discovered that the same footprint could now support up to 5-megawatt-hours, reflecting the rapid technological progress in the industry.

We also address local challenges with innovative solutions. For example, we have signed up with BYD, the best international battery supplier, to ensure that the latest and superior quality systems are provided to the market. This proactive approach—keeping an eye on global trends, educating our team, and swiftly applying new technologies—enables us to expand solar power adoption effectively in Sri Lanka.

How do you envision the future and impact of Hayleys Solar in shaping the industry?

Hayleys Solar’s mission is to become the leading renewable energy company in Sri Lanka. We are making significant strides towards this goal, having recently bid on major utility-scale projects that, once secured, will position us as one of the largest investors in the renewable energy sector.

As the largest EPC company in this field, we aim to play a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s energy transition. We are closely monitoring the restructuring of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to explore new opportunities for private sector involvement, and should these opportunities align with our goals, we intend to pursue them vigorously over the next few years.

By 2030 and beyond, we anticipate renewable energy will extend beyond the current 70% target, gradually moving to 100%.  Additionally, we are expanding our footprint internationally, with ongoing projects in the Maldives, further solidifying our vision to shape the renewable energy landscape locally and regionally.