CEB Takes Immediate and Long-Term Actions to Strengthen Power Grid After Nationwide Blackout

Colombo, February 18, 2025 – The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has announced a series of immediate and long-term measures to prevent future nationwide power failures following the February 9, 2025 blackout.

Cause of the Blackout

The power failure, which occurred at 11:13 AM, was triggered by a disturbance at the 33kV Panadura Grid Substation, leading to a sudden voltage drop across the network. At the time, over 50% of national electricity demand was met by 800 MW of solar PV generation, supplemented by power from Norochcholai Power Plant (470 MW) and hydropower plants (130 MW).

CEB identified several key factors that contributed to the outage:

• High Solar PV Penetration & Low Inertia – The grid lacked sufficient synchronous generation, making it vulnerable to voltage fluctuations.
• Solar PV Disconnection – A sharp voltage drop caused multiple solar PV systems to disconnect, worsening the imbalance.
• Norochcholai Power Plant Tripping – The plant automatically disconnected to protect itself from system-wide instability.
• "Sunny Sunday" Effect – Low weekend electricity demand, combined with high solar generation, further destabilized the grid.

Immediate Corrective Actions

To prevent similar failures, CEB has implemented the following urgent measures:

✅ Operating more synchronous generators and selected gas turbines in synchronous condenser mode for voltage stability.

✅ Reducing ground-mounted solar PV generation when necessary to balance grid demand.

Medium-Term Strategies

To enhance grid reliability, CEB is accelerating:

🔹 Adjustments to rooftop solar PV inverters to prevent unnecessary disconnections.

🔹 New industrial electricity tariffs for weekends and holidays to balance energy usage.

🔹 Encouraging solar PV installations with battery energy storage systems (BESS) for better grid support.

Long-Term Solutions for Grid Stability

CEB is investing in major infrastructure projects, including:

🔸 Grid-forming inverters with BESS to enhance frequency stabilization.

🔸 Emergency backup generators at Norochcholai Power Plant to support rapid recovery.

🔸 Expediting the 600 MW Maha Oya Pumped Hydro Project to improve grid flexibility.

🔸 Advancing Smart Grid technology for real-time energy management.

CEB’s Commitment to a Reliable Power Supply

CEB acknowledges the inconvenience caused to the public and assures that it is working towards a more stable, secure, and renewable energy-driven national grid. The board also urges public cooperation as it modernizes Sri Lanka’s power infrastructure to meet future energy demands.