Sri Lanka has connected its first grid-scale standalone Battery Energy Storage System to the national electricity grid, marking a significant step in the country's efforts to integrate increasing amounts of renewable electricity.
The 10 MW/40 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Anuradhapura was connected to the grid on September 18 under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Battery storage allows electricity generated at one time to be stored and supplied later. In this case, the system is intended to store surplus solar electricity generated during the daytime and release it during higher-demand periods at night.
The Anuradhapura installation is the first of 13 BESS facilities being developed through StoreX (Pvt) Ltd, a joint venture involving WindForce PLC and Vidullanka PLC.
Together, those 13 installations are expected to provide 130 MW of power capacity and 520 MWh of energy-storage capacity. Officials said the remaining 12 are expected to be connected progressively over the coming months.
This company portfolio should not be confused with the wider national procurement programme. WindForce and Vidullanka secured 13 of the 16 projects awarded under that programme.
Floating solar plant commissioned
A second renewable-energy project was commissioned alongside the battery-storage milestone: the 5 MW Diyajanani floating solar plant at Ibbankatuwa Reservoir in Dambulla.
The plant is expected to generate approximately 9 GWh of renewable electricity annually.
Floating solar systems place photovoltaic panels on water rather than using additional land.
The two projects therefore perform different functions: the floating solar facility generates electricity, while the BESS stores electricity so that it can be supplied when needed.