By: Staff Writer
April 17, Colombo (LNW): The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has temporarily halted all thermal power generation in response to an unprecedented drop in electricity demand during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays. This strategic move reflects the growing complexity of managing Sri Lanka’s evolving energy mix, which now includes a substantial share of renewable energy, particularly hydro and solar power.
According to CEB Media Spokesperson Dhammika Wimalaratne, one unit of the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant — the country’s largest thermal power generator — was deactivated on April 11. Operations at the Kelanitissa Power Plant, which runs on naphtha, were also halted on the morning of April 12. Currently, none of Sri Lanka’s thermal plants are in operation.
This temporary shutdown was informed by a detailed study conducted by the CEB to assess the projected demand against the available supply from renewable sources. With economic activity reduced during the holiday season, electricity consumption dropped to unusually low levels from April 10 onwards. As a result, the CEB shifted its reliance to hydroelectric power, supported by smaller-scale wind and solar inputs, to maintain grid functionality.
A particularly notable aspect of the CEB’s strategy was the management of rooftop solar generation. As solar power generation continued during daylight hours, the grid began to experience an oversupply.
To prevent this from destabilizing the system, the CEB ordered temporary disconnection of rooftop solar units exceeding 100 kilowatts. On April 13, the board issued a broader advisory requesting all rooftop solar users to suspend power generation during the day, but only upon receiving an SMS alert and only until 3:00 p.m.
This situation underscores the challenges of balancing Sri Lanka’s increasingly diverse energy mix. As the nation pushes toward its renewable energy goals — aiming for 70% of electricity to come from renewables by 2030 — issues related to intermittency, grid management, and storage are becoming more prominent.
The temporary shutdown of thermal plants reveals a positive shift towards cleaner energy, but also exposes vulnerabilities when consumption patterns suddenly change.
Experts warn that without upgrades to the national grid, including real-time monitoring, automated balancing, and battery storage solutions, such disruptions may become more frequent. The curtailment of solar generation, while necessary in this context, may also discourage future investments in rooftop solar systems unless proper compensation or smart-grid solutions are introduced.
Despite these challenges, the CEB’s swift and transparent response helped maintain grid stability and avoid power outages. The utility provider also extended appreciation to the public, especially solar users, for their cooperation during this critical balancing period.
This incident highlights the urgent need for policy, infrastructure, and technology upgrades to enable Sri Lanka’s smooth transition to a modern, resilient, and renewable-powered grid.
