Sri Lanka's National System Operator has directed owners of large rooftop solar installations to temporarily cease operations during peak daylight hours, citing reduced electricity demand over the holiday period.
The National System Operator (Pvt) Ltd has issued a directive requiring rooftop solar systems exceeding 300 kilowatts in capacity to halt power generation during specified hours this week. The measure takes effect from August 27 and continues through the following Sunday, with affected systems required to remain offline between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day.
Authorities have attributed the temporary shutdown to anticipated lower electricity consumption during the holiday season. According to the operator, the reduction in demand necessitates measures to preserve the stability and balance of the national electricity grid during this period.
The directive applies specifically to large-scale rooftop solar installations meeting the 300-kilowatt threshold and has been communicated to affected operators with a request for compliance with the deactivation schedule. The temporary nature of the measure indicates it represents a short-term intervention rather than a permanent policy shift regarding renewable energy generation in Sri Lanka.
