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.