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July 14, 2022
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has requested all rooftop solar system owners in Sri Lanka to voluntarily switch off their solar photovoltaic (PV) systems during the daytime from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM until April 21, 2025. This request comes during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holiday period, a time when electricity demand is very low due to the closure of factories and offices. Meanwhile, clear and sunny weather conditions have led to high generation from rooftop solar systems. This mismatch between low demand and high solar output poses a serious risk to the stability of the national power grid.
The main technical issue is that too much solar power enters the grid at a time when fewer people are using electricity. To manage this imbalance, CEB is forced to shut down large power plants such as hydro and thermal units. These plants not only provide electricity but also something called “inertia,” which helps keep the frequency of the power supply stable. Solar systems, however, cannot provide this type of support. Inertia, created by the spinning mass in large generators, helps the grid resist sudden changes and avoid power failures. Without enough inertia, even small issues can cause large-scale blackouts.
