Helios Renewable Energy Foundation – Who they are and what they do:

Helios REF is a UK charity established following the successful private funding of a 5.5kW PV installation on a water filtration plant in Sobithagama, Sri Lanka, completed in July 2024.

The mission of Helios REF is to prevent and relieve poverty in Sri Lanka and Nepal by facilitating the provision of renewable energy to communities in need.

What NEF Does with Helios REF:

In 2024, NextEnergy Foundation initiated a partnership with Helios REF to install three 5-5.5kW PV systems in three schools located in Panama, within the Eastern District of Sri Lanka. This region was severely affected by the 2004 tsumani.

Panama, located in Ampara District, is a diverse and large community comprising Sinhalese and Tamil people. The community is served by three schools: a Sinhala Primary School, a Tamil Primary School, and a shared Secondary School. This project promotes reconciliation and fosters sustainable community development by utilizing solar energy to alleviate poverty. It aims to help all member of the Sinhalese and Tamil Communities live together in harmony.

Helios REF’s Trustees have personally visited the schools, which serve a total of 1,094 students, as detailed below:

• Sinhalese Primary School: 83 students
• Tamil Primary School: 78 students
• Secondary School: 933 students

The solar systems will be connected to the national grid (Ceylon Electricity Board – CEB), allowing excess solar energy to be exported. This will earn each school a “feed-in-tariff”, which will further supports the development of the schools’ structures. The project’s aim is to reduce the current high cost of electricity required to operate all aspects of the schools, including the water filtration system, which is currently only available in the Sinhalese Primary School.

The revenue generated from the exported electricity will enable the schools to purchase clean water from a filtration system, manage the computer lab in the senior school, and maintain a refrigeration system for storing medication.

Addittionally, each of the three installations is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 4 tonnes of per year, leading to a total reduction of around 12 tonnes of CO₂ annually for the project.

September 2025 Update: The three installations have been completed and on 3 September 2025, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) officially connected the three schools in Panama to the national grid. The solar systems are now fully operational, allowing the schools to meet part of their electricity needs through clean, renewable energy.

The final step is the signing of the feed-in-tariff agreement between the CEB and the schools, which is expected to take place by the end of the month. Once signed, the schools will begin earning revenue from excess solar energy exported to the grid—supporting essential infrastructure such as clean water access, computer labs, and refrigeration for medication.

November 2025 Update – Following the earlier update, we are pleased to confirm that all planned installation activities have now been successfully completed. This marks a significant milestone in the Helios Renewable Energy Foundation’s commitment to improving educational and community infrastructure in Panama.

Summary of Completed Actions:

• Solar Installations: Three rooftop solar photovoltaic systems (5.85 kWp each) were installed in August 2025. These systems are grid-connected and predicted to generate approximately 7,400 kWh annually, exceeding the schools’ current energy demand.
• Income Generation: Energy exported to the grid will generate payments from the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), creating a sustainable funding stream for school upgrades.
• Clean Water Access: Income will be used to provide clean drinking water for two schools, complementing the existing filtration system at Deegamandala school.

Forecast Positive Impacts: Building on the foundations laid in the previous phase, the following benefits are expected:

1. Enhanced Learning Environment
   • Reliable power for computer labs, fans, lighting, and refrigeration.
   • Improved technology curriculum (currently limited to mobile phones).
2. Access to Clean Drinking Water
   • Solar-powered filtration at Deegamandala school.
   • Affordable access for the other two schools via the nearby monastery plant.
3. Community Benefits
   • Reduced financial burden on parents for electricity costs.
   • Ability for community members to charge phones and lighting devices.
4. Future Connectivity & Support
   • Broadband internet access planned, funded by CEB income.
   • Remote monitoring and two-year post-installation support by Helios.

Helios Renewable Energy Foundation will provide further updates following the next visit in January 2026, after which monitoring of the positive impacts will begin.