Minister of Energy Anura Karunathilaka announced that tenders have already been called for further battery storage projects of 400 megawatts, 250 megawatts, and 150 megawatts, with evaluations currently underway.
“We believe that before the end of 2027, most likely within the first six months,these projects too can be integrated into our system,” he said, underscoring the Government’s commitment to expanding renewable energy and storage capacity.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Anuradhapura battery storage system, the Minister described Sri Lanka’s electricity sector as entering a “transformative change.” He noted that the country currently generates nearly 3,000 megawatts of solar power during the day, against an average demand of 2,800 megawatts.
At night, however, demand rises to 3,100 megawatts, a gap expected to widen under forecasted El Niño conditions. “Our challenge has been the lack of capacity to store excess solar power generated during the day,” he explained.
To address this, projects totaling 160 megawatts are being implemented, with WindForce responsible for 130 megawatts. “We believe all 160 megawatts can be added to the grid before the end of this year,” he said.
The Minister added that expanding renewable energy and storage capacity will reduce reliance on costly fossil fuels at night, ensuring clean electricity at fair prices, and guaranteeing an efficient, reliable, and uninterrupted supply. (Newswire)
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