– The first shipment of commercial-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) arrived at the Port of Colombo today.The shipment consists of six battery storage units and is part of a larger program to introduce 16 such systems with a combined capacity of 160 megawatts (MW) to the national electricity network. The project was initiated following an international competitive procurement process launched in July 2025.According to the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation, the six units will be installed near major transmission substations in Mahawa, Vavuniya, Chunnakam, Kilinochchi, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.

The battery systems are designed to store excess electricity generated during daytime hours, particularly from solar power plants, and release that energy during periods of peak demand at night. Each unit can store up to 40 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity and supply 10 MW to the grid when required. Together, the six systems will provide 60 MW of dispatchable power during high-demand periods.

This is the first time Sri Lanka is introducing grid-scale battery storage technology to support the national electricity network. The systems will be operated and managed by National System Operator Ltd. (NSO) under the Ministry of Energy, while maintenance responsibilities will remain with the respective manufacturers and contractors.