The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) under the Ministry of Power and Energy, Sri Lanka, has issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) for constructing two 100 MW floating solar power projects on the Samanalawewa reservoir in the Ratnapura district.

The last date for the submission of proposals is December 13, 2023.

The project scope involves constructing two 100 MW floating solar power projects and transmission facilities up to the interconnection point to the national grid. The power purchase agreement with CEB will span 20 years with early system connection, and each bidder will be limited to one 100 MW proposal.

The EOI does not specify financial guarantee details.

Eligibility for the bidders includes the following key points:

• Legal recognition as entities, such as registered companies or government-owned organizations.
• Registration in the project jurisdiction and demonstrated financial stability with a positive net worth.
• Possession of relevant technical expertise and project-specific experience.
• Compliance with national laws, including environmental, safety, and quality standards, and securing all required approvals, licenses, permits, and certificates, as mandated by the National Environmental (Amended) Act, No. 47 of 1980, and relevant provincial statutes.
• Confirmation of no conflicts of interest, adherence to submission guidelines, and provision of required insurance and financial guarantees.

The evaluation of the technical proposal takes into account certain other key factors, such as the bidder’s experience in similar projects and their ability to provide reliable power. It also considers the expected timeline for project implementation and grid connection.

The project will emphasize the efficient utilization of the Samanalawewa Reservoir, allowing it to serve as a dual-purpose energy resource—sustaining hydroelectric power generation during peak hours while harnessing solar energy to meet daytime energy demands.

Earlier this year, Adani Green Energy secured approval for two wind energy projects in northern Sri Lanka with a combined investment of $442 million. These projects, one with a capacity of 250 MW in Mannar and the other with 100 MW in Pooneryn, are scheduled to be connected to the national grid by 2025.

Last year, CEB sought bids for 30 MW of solar projects in Sri Lanka with a 20-year operational period, a 10-month completion timeline from PPA signing, requiring LKR3 million (~$9,167)/MW proposal security deposit, and LKR22 million (~$67,226) performance deposit within 30 days of award.