Sri Lanka has become the first country in South Asia to introduce a solar hybrid bakery oven powered by both solar and biogas energy, marking a milestone in clean energy innovation and sustainable livelihood development.

The oven was officially unveiled at an event held at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo on 22 May, organised by Incitare International and the Global Rethinking Finance Collaborative (GRFC) in collaboration with German Tech Kilinochchi.

The initiative introduces European clean-energy baking technology to Sri Lanka, replacing fossil fuel-based baking methods with renewable energy alternatives while supporting sustainable livelihoods and several United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals.

Beris Gwynne, Founder and CEO of Incitare International and GRFC, said, “We are ready to present a hybrid solar oven that we believe has serious potential not only for communities, bakeries and eco-tourism establishments, but also for training institutions,”.

She said the initiative could help reduce carbon emissions, lower import dependence and potentially create a new export-oriented industry.

Cheryl Arndt, Country Director for Sri Lanka at Incitare International, said the project reflected years of collaboration among communities, institutions and development partners.

“Sri Lanka has not just adopted a new technology. It has demonstrated that sustainable livelihoods and clean energy are not aspirations for tomorrow. They are happening right here, right now,” she said.

The programme began in March 2025 following national-level stakeholder discussions involving government institutions, which led to partnerships focused on expanding solar oven technology and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Sri Lanka Representative Fabio Germano said the project highlighted successful cooperation between development agencies and vocational training institutions.

The event was attended by His Excellency (H.E) Olivier Praz, who noted that solar energy usage in Sri Lanka remained below 12% of the country’s energy mix over recent years.

He also highlighted challenges facing Sri Lanka’s energy sector, including global fuel supply disruptions, low-quality coal imports and reduced hydropower generation due to insufficient rainfall.