Government’s aim is to build a self-sufficient green renaissance by strengthening national energy infrastructure- Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation and Minister of Energy Anura Karunathilake
The 10 MW/40 MWh Battery Energy Storage System constructed in Anuradhapura was connected to the national electricity grid this morning (18) under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The energy storage system has been installed with the contribution of Storex (Private) Limited, with the aim of increasing the country’s renewable energy capacity and enhancing the stability of the electricity system.
Battery energy storage system technology is one of the most distinctive and efficient technologies in the energy sector today. A key feature of this technology is its ability to store excess solar power generated during the daytime and release it to the national grid during periods of peak electricity demand at night.
Under the overall project implemented by Storex (Private) Limited, 13 energy storage systems with a total capacity of 130 MW/520 MWh are to be connected to the national electricity grid, thereby enhancing the stability of the national grid. The Anuradhapura system is the first of these energy storage systems to be connected to the national grid. It was also stated that the remaining projects are scheduled to be completed and connected to the national grid within the next two to three months.
Following the unveiling of the commemorative plaque and the connection of the energy storage system to the national electricity grid, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake inspected the premises where the battery storage system has been installed.
As part of the project, the President also symbolically presented a printer for the benefit of students of Thammennapura College and awarded 10 scholarships to students studying for the G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination in Mathematics and Science.
Addressing the gathering, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation and Energy Anura Karunathilake said the occasion marked an important step towards achieving the Government’s objectives of increasing the use of renewable energy, generating clean electricity, providing electricity to the
public at affordable prices through lower generation costs, and ensuring an efficient, reliable and uninterrupted electricity supply.
Speaking further, Minister Anura Karunathilake said:
“We know that the global energy sector has progressed through different eras and stages, reaching the next phase through various turning points. In Sri Lanka’s energy sector, particularly the electricity sector, we are now at a point where a transformative change is taking place. As the present Government completes two years in office, we believe that this transformation in the country’s electricity sector is particularly important.
We already generate close to 3,000 MW of solar power during the daytime. The average electricity demand during the day is around 2,800 MW. However, during the night, the demand rises to around 3,100 MW. With the El Niño conditions, forecasts indicate that this demand may increase further by February next year.
Our challenge has been that, until now, we have not had the capacity to store the excess solar power generated during the daytime. To overcome this challenge, we are currently implementing projects with a total capacity of 160 MW. WINDFORCE is responsible for 130 MW of this capacity. We believe that we will be able to add the entire 160 MW to the national grid before the end of this year.
We have also already commenced the process of calling for bids for battery storage projects of 400 MW, 250 MW and 150 MW, among others. Some of these projects are currently at the evaluation stage. We believe that these projects can be added to our system before the end of 2027, most likely within the first six months of that year.
This will enable us, on the one hand, to integrate a greater amount of renewable energy into the national grid and, on the other, to reduce the high costs incurred in generating large amounts of electricity using fossil fuels during the night.
This will provide us with an opportunity to realise our Government’s plans to increase the use of renewable energy, generate clean electricity and provide electricity to the public at affordable prices through lower generation costs, while ensuring an efficient, reliable and uninterrupted electricity supply.
Accordingly, I extend my gratitude to everyone who contributed to the successful implementation of this initiative.”
Members of Parliament Kumara Jayakody, Professor Sena Nanayakkara and Bhagya Sri Herath, as well as representatives of local authorities; Secretary to the Ministry of Energy and Senior Additional Secretary to the President Russell Aponsu; Anuradhapura District Secretary Ranjith Wimalasuriya; government officials including officials of the Ministry of Energy and the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority; chairpersons and senior officials of the successor companies of the Ceylon Electricity Board; and Storex (Private) Limited Director Manjula Perera and members of the company were also present on the occasion.
