Sri Lanka energy mix & electricity
Power plants in Sri Lanka produced 17.3 TWh of electricity in 2025. Hydropower is the largest source at 38.2%, ahead of coal (27.5%) and solar power (16.5%).
Electricity generation by source in 2025
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 6.59 | 38.2% | −7.2 |
| Coal | 4.75 | 27.5% | −6.2 |
| Solar | 2.84 | 16.5% | +16.2 |
| Oil | 1.87 | 10.8% | −6.7 |
| Wind | 0.93 | 5.4% | +2.8 |
| Bioenergy | 0.23 | 1.3% | +0.9 |
| Other renewables | 0.04 | 0.2% | — |
| Total | 17.25 | 100% |
Sri Lanka: electricity in context
Power plants in Sri Lanka produced 17.3 TWh of electricity in 2025. That is similar to Cambodia. Hydropower is the largest source at 38.2%, ahead of coal (27.5%) and solar power (16.5%).
61.6% of the country’s power came from renewable sources: 49th of 158 countries. This puts it 28 points above the world average of 33.8%. It is also above the average for Asia (27.3%). Generating one kWh emits about 329 g CO₂e here (world average: 458 g). That makes the grid somewhat cleaner than the world average. On carbon intensity, Sri Lanka ranks 68th of 158 from the cleanest.
Since 2015, the fastest-growing source has been solar power: its output rose by 2.8 TWh, lifting its share by 16.2 percentage points. Oil moved the other way, falling by 440 GWh. Taken together, the renewable share rose by 12.9 percentage points over the decade. Total generation grew by 4 TWh over the same period. Carbon intensity dropped from 418 to 329 g/kWh, a 21% cut.
Coal is in clear retreat: its share fell from 33.8% in 2015 to 27.5% in 2025. In absolute terms, coal generation peaked in 2020 at 6.4 TWh and has since fallen 25%.
Wind and solar together provided 21.9% of electricity (solar 16.5%, wind 5.4%), compared with 17.3% worldwide. Per person, that is 122 kWh of solar electricity a year, versus a global average of 338 kWh. Solar first passed 1% of the mix in 2017.
Sri Lanka generates 743 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 19% of the global average. Sri Lanka does not trade electricity with other countries: the grid is not interconnected with any neighbour.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 1985. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
Sri Lanka against the world and Asia averages.
Total energy: beyond electricity
Primary energy covers transport, heating and industry too. Renewables supply 23.3% of primary energy and fossil fuels 76.8% (2024). Per person, that is 4,819 kWh a year (world: 21,654).
Substitution method: non-fossil electricity is converted to the primary energy a fossil plant would have needed.
Power plants in Sri Lanka
The WRI Global Power Plant Database lists 48 utility-scale plants in Sri Lanka with a combined capacity of 3.7 GW. Hydro plants account for the largest slice (39% of listed capacity). The biggest single plant is Lakvijaya (900 MW, Coal). The database was last updated in 2021, so newer wind and solar farms and rooftop PV are under-represented.
Largest power plants
| # | Plant | Fuel | Capacity MW | Commissioned | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lakvijaya | Coal | 900 | 2013 | Ceylon Electricity Board |
| 2 | CEB Kelantitissa | Oil | 382 | 1982 | Ceylon Electricity Board |
| 3 | Yugadanavi | Oil | 300 | 2007 | Ceylon Electricity Board |
| 4 | Victoria | Hydro | 210 | — | Ceylon Electricity Board |
| 5 | Kotmale | Hydro | 201 | — | Ceylon Electricity Board |
| 6 | Sojitz Kelanitissa | Oil | 168 | 2005 | Sojitz Corporation |
| 7 | Sapugaskanda | Oil | 160 | 1984 | Ceylon Electricity Board |
| 8 | Upper Kotmale | Hydro | 150 | — | Ceylon Electricity Board |
| 9 | Randenigala | Hydro | 126 | — | Ceylon Electricity Board |
| 10 | Samanala | Hydro | 124 | — | Ceylon Electricity Board |
| 11 | New Laxapana | Hydro | 100 | — | Ceylon Electricity Board |
| 12 | Kukule Ganga | Hydro | 80 | — | Ceylon Electricity Board |
| 13 | Polpitiya | Hydro | 75 | — | Ceylon Electricity Board |
| 14 | Canyon | Hydro | 60 | — | Ceylon Electricity Board |
| 15 | Colombo Port | Oil | 60 | — | Ceylon Electricity Board |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 48 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: Sri Lanka
164 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 164 MW of solar and 225 MW of wind operating, plus 3.3 GW under construction or planned.
How does Sri Lanka compare?
Sri Lanka next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 61.6% | 61.6% | 38.4% | 329 | 743 | 17.3 | — | |
| India | 24.1% | 26.7% | 73.3% | 670 | 1,422 | 2,082 | Compare | |
| Maldives | 7.1% | 7.1% | 92.9% | 612 | 1,611 | 0.9 | Compare | |
| Bangladesh | 2.1% | 2.1% | 97.9% | 696 | 589 | 103 | Compare | |
| Thailand | 16.6% | 16.6% | 83.4% | 546 | 2,628 | 188 | Compare | |
| Nepal | 100% | 100% | 0% | 24 | 375 | 11.1 | Compare | |
| Myanmar | 47.9% | 47.9% | 52.1% | 503 | 398 | 21.7 | Compare | |
| Asia average | 27.3% | 32.1% | 67.9% | 573 | 3,749 | 18,015 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in Sri Lanka is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in Sri Lanka?
How clean is the electricity in Sri Lanka?
Does Sri Lanka have nuclear power?
How much electricity does Sri Lanka use per person?
How much solar power does Sri Lanka produce?
More countries in Asia
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2025. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.