First Energy wins two national awards for its building-integrated solar installation at the new People’s Bank head office in Colombo, recognising a project that combines renewable power generation with architectural design. The awards were presented during Sri Lanka Clean Energy Week 2026.
First Energy wins two national awards for a pioneering solar roof at People’s Bank head office
First Energy SL (Pvt) Ltd received Project of the Year: Building-Integrated Solar (BIPV) and Technology Innovation of the Year: Building-Integrated Solar (BIPV) at the Sri Lanka Clean Energy Week Leadership Awards 2026. The awards ceremony was held on 21 August at Hotel Marino, Colombo, as part of the industry event organised by SolarQuarter.
Both awards recognised the same installation at the top of the 24-storey People’s Bank head office. Located more than 75 metres above street level, the system uses solar modules to create a waterproof architectural roof over a terrace while generating electricity. According to First Energy, it is the first system of its nature installed in Sri Lanka.
Unlike conventional rooftop solar systems, which are mounted onto an existing finished roof, building-integrated photovoltaics make the solar modules part of the building itself. In this project, the solar array replaced what would otherwise have been a conventional solid pergola roof, meaning the installation had to perform both as an architectural element and an electricity-generating system.
The design presented several technical challenges. The architects required a specific pergola structure, defined module spacing and a particular quality of filtered daylight reaching the terrace below. Standard solar panels, which are manufactured in fixed dimensions and generally allow limited light through, could not meet those requirements.
First Energy therefore worked with specialist international manufacturers to develop fully customised solar modules. The panels were produced in non-standard dimensions and with reduced cell density to allow a controlled amount of daylight to pass through to the terrace. This enabled the solar installation to maintain the intended architectural appearance while also producing renewable electricity.
The building’s height introduced another engineering consideration. The system had to withstand high-velocity wind loads at the top of the high-rise building, requiring thicker modules, additional clamps and an upgraded support structure. These modifications were designed to provide the stability required for the installation while maintaining its architectural function.
The completed roof has an installed peak capacity of more than 80 kilowatts (kWp). In addition to generating electricity, the structure provides protection from rain and creates shade and filtered natural light for the terrace. The combination of these three functions — power generation, weather protection and architectural shading — formed a central feature of the project.
First Energy wins two national awards for a project that illustrates how Building-Integrated Solar can be incorporated into a building from the design stage rather than added after construction. The approach remains relatively uncommon in Sri Lanka, where commercial solar installations are predominantly mounted on existing roofs.
Building-integrated photovoltaics can be more practical when considered during the original design of a building because the solar system can replace construction materials that would otherwise have been purchased separately. This can create an opportunity to integrate renewable energy generation without treating the solar installation as an entirely additional building component.
The People’s Bank project also reflects the growing scope of Solar Energy Sri Lanka’s commercial applications. Rather than limiting solar power to conventional rooftop arrays, projects such as this demonstrate how photovoltaic technology can be incorporated into the architectural and structural design of commercial buildings.
First Energy, established in 2016, provides engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services as well as long-term operations and maintenance (O&M). The company has also expanded into battery energy storage systems (BESS) and medium-voltage infrastructure.
The company says it has delivered more than 100 MW of rooftop and ground-mounted solar capacity in Sri Lanka, with more than 75% of its installed capacity coming from commercial, industrial and utility-scale projects. It has maintained ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 accreditation continuously since 2023, holds a CIDA EM 2 grading and has been registered with the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority as a solar company for 10 years.
The People’s Bank solar roof was installed shortly before Cyclone Ditwah struck Sri Lanka in late November 2025 and is now complete and operational. The national awards come as First Energy marks its tenth year of operations, highlighting a project that combines customised engineering, renewable energy generation and architectural requirements in a single installation.