SL unveils South Asia’s first solar bakery oven
Sri Lanka became the first country in South Asia to unveil a solar hybrid bakery oven, designed with both solar and biogas energy sources to ensure uninterrupted operation despite unpredictable weather conditions.
The event, was held on May 22, at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo and was hosted by Incitare Sri Lanka and the Global Rethinking Finance Collaborative (GRFC), in strategic collaboration with German Tech Kilinochchi and was graced by Olivier Praz, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and the Maldives and Fabio Germano, Representative of GIZ Sri Lanka.
The initiative marks South Asia’s first deployment of this European clean technology, replacing fossil-fuel baking with solar and biogas-powered alternatives while supporting sustainable livelihoods and multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Incitare International and GRFC, Founder and CEO Beris Gwynne said; “We are ready to present a hybrid solar oven that we believe has serious potential not only for communities, bakeries, eco-tourism establishments, but also for training institutions, to be able to reduce the carbon footprint, producing products that reduce imports reliance and potentially establish a new field of export industry.”
Incitare International Country Director for Sri Lanka Cheryl Arndt said; “What we are witnessing today is the result of years of quiet, determined work by communities, partners, and institutions who refused to wait for change and chose to create it. Sri Lanka has not just adopted a new technology.”
GIZ Sri Lanka Representative Fabio Germano, said; “It is a pleasure and honour to be part of this partnership with Incitare International, GIZ Sri Lanka, and the Sri Lanka-German Technical Training Institute (SLGTTI) in Kilinochchi. My sincere thanks to Beris and Cheryl for the invitation.
“Seeing the finished product here today, after months of effort and a journey all the way from Kilinochchi, is truly rewarding.”
At today’s ceremony, certificates were awarded by the chief guests to contributing teams from German Tech Kilinochchi and Incitare Sri Lanka, recognising their role in bringing the initiative from concept to operational reality.
Olivier Praz, whose embassy has consistently supported vocational training and sustainable livelihood development in Sri Lanka, noted: “Solar usage in Sri Lanka remains comparatively low, accounting for less than 12 percent of the energy mix over the past three to four years, against more established sources such as water and coal.”
Incitare International is a Swiss and Australian-registered collaborative platform headquartered in Geneva, founded by Beris Gwynne to bring futures thinking and values-driven collaboration into global development, humanitarian systems, and public-private partnerships. German Tech Kilinochchi, the vocational training institution in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, and GIZ Sri Lanka, the German development agency, were key implementation partners in making this milestone possible.
Source: Daily News