INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has reiterated its appeal to all rooftop solar system owners across Sri Lanka to voluntarily switch off
their solar PV systems during daytime hours, from 9.00 a.m
to 3.00 p.m., until April 21, 2025.Issuing a statement in this regard, the CEB emphasized that this request was made with the utmost concern
for the safety and stability of the national power grid during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holiday period
It said sunny conditions have led to high production from rooftop solar at a time when customer demand is at its lowest, creating serious
risks to grid stability.To provide a better understanding of the situation, the CEB has outlined the technical challenges in simple
the electricity frequency stable
provided by the spinning mass of large generators
It helps the grid resist sudden changes in power
Without adequate inertia, even a small glitch can cause voltage or frequency problems, leading to partial or total blackouts.The statement
A table comparing the estimated customer demand and electricity generation at 12.30 p.m
interventions.During this period, demand on the national grid reduced to as low as 1550 MW in the morning hours
Simultaneously, a surge in solar generation forced the CEB to shut down large synchronous generators, such as hydro and thermal plants,
which are crucial for grid stability
On April 12, the CEB took proactive steps to stabilize the national grid by carefully managing the electricity supply.These measures ensured
level sufficient (though not ideal) to prevent a sudden grid collapse
Without this intervention, inertia support would have plummeted to 34%, a dangerously low level where even minor disruptions could trigger
essential to avoid similar risks during the remaining days of the New Year holidays.In its statement, the CEB further explained the
high, conventional power plants are forced offline, making the grid unstable.Until Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), water batteries,
At present, Sri Lanka does not have sufficient BESS or advanced solar inverters that can provide this support.Sri Lanka has over 7 million
Only about 100,000 are rooftop solar owners
But when the grid becomes unstable, everyone is at risk.In light of this situation, the CEB kindly appeals to all solar PV system owners to
voluntarily switch off their systems each day from 9.00 a.m
individual SMS reminders to all solar PV customers.
