Vidullanka to commission its first-ever Biomass-based power project

The Powerhouse of Dehiattakandiya Dendro power plant

The control room of the Dehiattakandiya Dendro power plant

Vidullanka PLC in its latest announcement to the Colombo Stock Exchange, disclosed the successful completion and commissioning of the development of the 3.3 MW Dehiattakandiya Dendro power plant to the national grid on 30 May through its joint venture company Vidul Biomass Ltd.

The project is a Rs. 1.45 billion investment jointly undertaken by Vidullanka and OC Energy Lanka Ltd., a fully-owned subsidiary of the Japanese construction giant the Obayashi Corporation. The investment in Vidul Biomass is the first of its kind for the Japanese conglomerate in Sri Lanka. 

With the newest addition of the 3.3 MW plant, the gross installed capacity operated by Vidullanka would increase up to 29 MW and once commissioned, the power plant is expected to supply 22 GWh of annual energy to the national grid.  

Vidul Biomass CEO Chamil Silva, who is also the resident of Bio energy Association Sri Lanka, added that the only sustainably grown Gliricidia will be used in generating electricity by Vidul Biomass, which is sourced mainly via its sister company Vidul Plantation Ltd.  

Apart from supplying environmentally-friendly electricity, the project has also uplifted the livelihood of the community by means of providing employment opportunities, increasing incomes of the farming populations through Gliricidia growing programs etc with the expected total direct and indirect employment generation exceeding 600.

Chamil Silva further added that by promoting bioenergy/dendro power in the country, the national electricity grid receives firm power with the similar properties of existing thermal generation and thus lowering the government investments in establishment of similar generating plants. 

Thus the Government should provide necessary supports for the implementation of similar dendro power projects which are in the pipeline amounting to approximately 100 MW within the next four years, where it positively impacts the country’s long term energy security as well as the balance of payment, thus uplifting the overall economy of the country.

The Dehiattakandiya Dendro power plant is the very first power plant developed by Vidullanka other than using hydro sources, after having developed more than 10 hydro power plants in Sri Lanka as well as in Uganda. Inclusion of the biomass power plant to the exiting project portfolio will enable the Vidullanka to mitigate the effect of weather would have on the overall performance of the Group. 

In addition to the Dendro power plant commissioned, Vidullanka is on track to commence the construction of Bukinda SHPP with an installed capacity of 6.5 MW in Uganda and number of solar rooftop projects during the latter part of the year. 

Going forward, Vidullanka aims to forge strong partnerships and grasp emerging opportunities in renewable energy arena internationally whilst contributing positively for a greener tomorrow.