Thursday May 14, 2026
Thursday May 14, 2026
Tuesday, 12 May 2026 05:18 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
In a major push to strengthen grid stability and accelerate renewable energy integration, the Government yesterday announced plans to add 250 to 300 megawatts (MW) of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to the national grid by the end of this year.
Addressing the media, Deputy Power Minister Arkam Ilyas said the Government has already facilitated the addition of between 700 and 1,000 MW of renewable energy projects to the grid since taking office in 2025, rejecting claims that authorities are discouraging clean energy investments.
“If anyone says we are discouraging renewable energy, we cannot accept that. Most of these projects are already in the process of being connected,” he said.
However, Ilyas acknowledged that technical limitations such as grid availability, transmission constraints, and system balancing requirements, as well as proper infrastructure to ensure such systems, were not in place, which prevent immediate integration of all renewable projects.
“To address this, the Government has introduced BESSs for the first time in Sri Lanka’s history, aimed at storing excess renewable energy and improving dispatch flexibility,” he said.
According to the Deputy Minister, 100 MW of battery storage capacity has already been tendered, evaluated, and awarded, while an additional 160 MW tender is currently under evaluation.
He said the Cabinet has also approved a further 250 MW project, along with another 50 MW allocation, bringing the planned battery storage pipeline to around 300 MW for near-term implementation.
“The rollout of battery storage will create greater capacity to absorb renewable power into the grid, particularly solar energy,” Ilyas said.
He reiterated that the Government sees renewable energy as key to Sri Lanka’s future power strategy and pledged continued support for solar, wind, and other clean energy investments.
