Coca-Cola installs mega rooftop solar panels
View(s):Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd (CCBSL) successfully installed one of the largest single location rooftop solar projects in Sri Lanka at its facility in Biyagama, as part of the company’s pledge towards sourcing renewable energy, and combating climate change through the reduction of its carbon footprint by approximately 1.94 Mt per annum.
The solar project showcases a significant investment of over Rs. 200 million and comprises the installation of over 5000 solar panels covering as much as 80 per cent of the roof at its bottling premises. This capacity enhancement enables CCBSL to generate 2,733 MWh/yr of renewable energy to contribute to the national grid and is expected to produce 1.9 Mw of electricity, the company said in a media release.
Managing Director of CCBSL, Mayank Arora said, “Our commitment to sustainable manufacturing has inspired our foray into generating renewable energy through rooftop solar panels, which will not only assist us in achieving carbon neutrality status in due course, but also contribute renewable electricity to the national grid. Energy security is a critical requirement for the country’s sustainable future and we are proud to play a proactive role in helping Sri Lanka achieve this. Coca-Cola Beverages is pioneering a host of social and environmental stewardship projects in local communities such as water stewardship, women’s empowerment and PET plastic recycling. This solar rooftop project is yet another instance of our long-term commitment to sustainability in Sri Lanka.”
The installation process took five months and was executed by reputed project partner and vendor, Hayleys Solar, and in partnership with the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). CCBSL’s pioneering solar rooftop project is a part of the Soorya Bala Sangramaya (Battle for Solar Energy) project scheme under CEB and the Sustainable Energy Authority, to mainstream renewable energy development, enhance power generation capacity and improve the environmental conditions in the country.