---
title: "Sri Lanka Moves Ahead With First Utility-Scale Battery Storage System"
url: https://www.lankaxpress.com/sri-lanka-first-utility-scale-battery-storage-project-kolonnawa/
type: post
date: 2026-11-03
modified: 2026-11-03
markdown_url: https://www.lankaxpress.com/sri-lanka-first-utility-scale-battery-storage-project-kolonnawa.md
author: "LankaXpress Reporter"
---

# Sri Lanka Moves Ahead With First Utility-Scale Battery Storage System

Sri Lanka is advancing its **green transition** with plans to establish the country’s first utility-scale **Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)** at the Kolonnawa Grid Substation.

The 100 MW / 100 MWh battery storage project is being developed with funding from the **Asian Development Bank (ADB)** to strengthen the national electricity grid and support greater integration of renewable energy, including variable sources such as solar and wind. 

The Cabinet has approved awarding the contract to a joint venture between **Ceylex Engineering (Pvt.) Ltd. and Xingneng Electric Power Construction Co. Ltd.** The contract is valued at **US$1.27 million, €2.61 million and Rs. 555.13 million**, excluding taxes.

The project comes as Sri Lanka targets **70% of electricity generation from renewable energy by 2030**, making energy storage and grid modernization increasingly important to the country’s clean-energy transition.