Gunda Power backs proposed night-time tariff for Sri Lanka's solar sector

Gunda Power says hybrid battery storage could let solar customers supply power to the grid after dark, not just during daylight.

Gunda Power has welcomed Sri Lanka's proposed night-time feed-in tariff, calling it a potential turning point for the country's solar sector. The company says the policy could let rooftop solar move beyond daytime generation into round-the-clock energy delivery.

Rooftop solar has let homes and businesses cut costs and feed clean power into the grid. But demand peaks after sunset, when panels stop producing. Meeting that gap currently means leaning on imported fossil fuels, adding pressure to energy costs and foreign exchange reserves.

A night-time feed-in tariff would let stored solar energy be released when demand is highest. Gunda Power argues this shifts solar from simple generation to active energy management.

Hybrid systems, which combine solar generation with battery storage and intelligent energy management, are central to that shift. Excess daytime energy can be stored for later use, or, under the right regulatory framework, sent to the grid during peak hours.

At a recent Solis Storage seminar, the Solis team presented EverCore ESS, an integrated inverter and battery storage solution. Installers and customers examined its safety, reliability and backup capabilities.

“The question could shift from asking how much a solar system can save, to how much it can generate, store and deliver,” said Nirash Goonewardena, Managing Director of Gunda Power. “That is a fundamental change in how we think about renewable energy.”

Goonewardena said success depends on a regulatory framework that is practical, transparent and commercially sustainable, with clear standards for metering, grid connection, safety and payment.

“Thousands of connected systems could eventually form a significant distributed energy resource,” he said. “The technology is becoming available. The industry is preparing. What's needed now is the vision to connect policy, technology and private investment around a shared national purpose.”

Gunda Power is a wholesale solar equipment provider based in Sri Lanka. The company imports and supplies solar equipment to professional installers across the country, supporting the growth of renewable energy through its installer network.