Sri Lanka has taken a significant step toward strengthening its energy independence as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake officiated the groundbreaking ceremony of the country’s first utility-scale wind power project supported by Chinese turbine manufacturer Envision Energy.
The 50 MW Mannar Wind Power Project is located in the northern coastal region of Mannar. The project marks a strategic shift for Sri Lanka, which has faced high fuel import costs and widespread power outages in recent years.
Harnessing Mannar’s Strong Coastal Winds
The Mannar area has long been known for its strong and steady winds along the coast, which makes it a good place to develop wind energy. But until now, there hadn’t been any big renewable energy projects in the area.
The project will put in 10 of Envision Energy’s EN-156/5.0 MW wind turbines. Each turbine will be 110 meters tall so that it can catch wind at high altitudes. By March 2027, the wind farm will be fully operational and will produce about 207 million kWh of clean electricity each year, enough to power about 100,000 homes.
Sri Lanka currently imports more than 50% of its energy needs and experienced major power shortages during the 2022 economic crisis, making this development particularly timely.
Local Execution with Global Technology
The project is being led by Hayleys PLC through its subsidiary HayWind One Limited, while Envision Energy is supplying turbines and technical expertise.
“By bringing Envision’s world-class technology to Sri Lanka for the first time, we are ensuring that the transition to green energy translates into more affordable electricity for people across the country,” said Hasith Prematillake, Managing Director of Hayleys Fentons Limited.
Sri Lankan engineers and project managers are overseeing construction and grid integration. “We are proud to demonstrate that Sri Lankan talent is fully capable of delivering renewable energy projects on a global scale,” said Roshane Perera, Director/CEO of Hayleys Solar.
Long-Term Reliability and Future Growth
Envision Energy has made the turbines strong enough to handle the conditions along Mannar’s coast, such as salt corrosion and high humidity. For 20 years, the company will also take care of operations and maintenance.
“By combining wind technology for complex coastal environments with global delivery and service capabilities, Envision Energy aims to deliver higher energy output, enhanced reliability, and long-term value to Sri Lanka’s national grid and communities,” said Winston Xu, General Manager of Envision Energy’s Southeast Region.
The Mannar project is expected to serve as a model for future wind developments across Sri Lanka’s northern and eastern coastal regions.
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