The Solar Industries Association, Sri Lanka (SIA-SL) is looking at promoting solar energy as a mainstream option in meeting electricity requirements, especially in rural areas unlikely to receive grid power. According to statistics, 47% of the households in Sri Lanka, mainly in rural areas, do not have access to the CEB grid. SIA-SL, which is receiving funding assistance under the Energy Services Delivery (ESD) Project, will set about their task of complementing the goals of the Government to meet the energy requirements of rural households in Sri Lanka.

The World Bank-assisted ESD Project has inter alia identified solar photovoltaics as a key thrust area to meet the micro level electricity requirements of rural households. The Project has earmarked US $5 million towards the promotion of solar home systems in Sri Lanka.

The SIA-SL is a non-profit organization that represents the interests and views of the Solar Photovoltaic Industry. Among other tasks, the SIA-SL seeks to serve as a catalyst between its members, the Government, the World Bank and the ESD Project in creating new ideas to develop solar industry, co-ordinate ongoing training and accreditation of personnel to support the industry, co-ordinate the enforcement of equipment standards and conduct market research.

Mr. Priyantha Wijesooriya, President SIA-SL said, "Solar energy is the most cost efficient solution to micro level energy requirements. It is cheap, the units are easy to install and above all it is environmentally friendly as it does not rob the land of its natural resources. Government and international backing is vital to ensuring optimal use of this energy form."

Alpha Thermal Systems (Pvt) Ltd., RESCO Asia Ltd, Shell Renewables Lanka Ltd. and Sarvodaya Economic Enterprises Development Services (SEEDS) Gte Ltd. are the present members of SIA-SL. Membership is open to any organization that has installed a minimum of 50 solar photovoltaic units since 1998.

SIA-SL works closely with the Sri Lanka Business Development Centre to promote solar energy at the grassroot level under the ongoing ESD Project. These promotional programmes are targeted at end-users as well as policy-makers and other stakeholders.

Up to 2 million households are in need of electricity, and the SIA-SL has identified the solar photovoltaic systems (SPV) as a solution to meet their requirements at a decentralised level. Apart from being an alternative source of electricity for households, SPV can also be used for water pumping, telecommunications, refrigeration and other related electricity requirements. To-date over 12,000 SPV systems exist in Sri Lanka with the numbers growing rapidly.