Solar energy has become a national calling in Sri Lanka under the government’s recent approach with “Surya Bala Sangramaya”, where these energy systems could be installed under three main categories; Net Metering, Net Accounting and Net Plus.
The three schemes are differentiated as follows.
Net Metering
- The solar PV system installed on the rooftop, is connected to the national grid via a net meter.
- Billing will be calculated for the net amount of electricity consumed by the customer. Net consumption is the difference between the total energy consumed and the energy produced by the solar PV system.
- If the production of electricity through the system exceeds the electricity consumption of the premises, this balance amount would be brought forwarded to the future use as credits to be used within the 20 years of agreement period.
Net Accounting
- The solar system installed on the rooftop, is connected to the national grid via a net meter.
- When the electricity generation through the solar system is higher than the consumption, the customer would be paid for the corresponding electricity units provided to the national grid.
- In this respect, for the first 7 years a value of Rs.22.00 would be paid per unit, and from the 8th year onwards it would be Rs.15.50 until the 20th year.
Net Plus
- The solar system and the national grid connection will act as independent systems.
- Customer would be paid for all the units generated by the solar system would be provided to the national grid.
- In this respect, for the first 7 years a value of Rs.22.00 would be paid per unit, and from the 8th year onwards it would be Rs.15.50 until the 20th year.