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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Sri Lanka marked a new technological milestone in its energy sector with the commissioning of the country’s first commercial‑level Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which was officially connected to the national power grid on September 10.

The state‑of‑the‑art facility, installed in Bataduwa near the Galle grid substation, has a capacity of 10 megawatts (40 MWh). 

Full commercial operations commenced on the same day, enabling the system to store excess electricity generated from renewable sources such as solar and wind, and release it back to the grid when required.

This project represents the first of 16 BESS units tendered in 2025 by the newly established National System Operator (NSO Pvt Ltd), the state company formed after restructuring the Ceylon Electricity Board to manage the national power system and oversee electricity purchases.

The Galle BESS has been implemented by Galilee BESS Limited, a subsidiary of WKV Hydro Technics, which is fully owned by Singapore‑based Khen Energy Ltd. (Newswire)

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Minister of Energy Aruna Karunathilake told Parliament today that the Government is preparing to grant systematic concessions on batteries used in renewable energy storage, beginning with systems above 100 kilowatts. 

He said discussions had recently been held with the President, and a framework is being developed to ensure concessions are provided under a structured process.

The Minister cautioned, however, that Sri Lanka has yet to establish quality standards for battery systems. 

“If we open this without a quality system, then batteries of substantial quality will be brought into Sri Lanka. It is important to prevent this and work towards introducing the quality system soon,” he noted.

Karunathilake also highlighted the country’s current renewable energy performance, stating that between 60–70% of electricity generation is now coming from renewable sources. 

He said rooftop solar alone contributes around 2,500 megawatts, ground‑mounted solar adds 530 megawatts, and wind power provides over 250 megawatts, amounting to more than 40% of total electricity generation.

The Minister acknowledged challenges in the sector, including delays in solar approval processes, difficulties in obtaining land, and connecting new generation systems to the grid. 

He emphasized that addressing these issues, alongside introducing battery storage with proper standards, will be critical to sustaining Sri Lanka’s renewable energy growth. (Newswire)

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Minister of Power and Energy Anura Karunathilake announced in Parliament today that Sri Lanka plans to add more than 2,700 gigawatts of electricity to the national grid between 2027 and 2029 through solar, wind, and battery power.

According to the Minister, the expansion will include 1,392 megawatts from solar, 370 megawatts from wind, and 1,000 megawatts from battery storage. 

He noted that rooftop solar generation has already shown significant growth, with around 2,500 megawatts currently being produced from panels installed on households and buildings.

Highlighting challenges in balancing supply, Karunathilake pointed out that excess electricity generation often occurs on Sundays and public holidays. 

To maintain grid stability, he said restrictions are sometimes imposed on solar power generation.

However, with the introduction of battery storage, the Minister explained that excess electricity generated during the daytime could be stored and released at night, ensuring a more stable and efficient energy supply in the future. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka is stepping up efforts to professionalize its renewable energy and technical workforce, with new regulations making National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) mandatory for solar power and refrigeration technicians by 2030.

According to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), community demand for renewable energy is rising sharply, with the government targeting 70% renewable energy by 2030. To achieve this, about 600 megawatts of solar capacity must be added annually to the national grid. Already, more than 1,000 companies are licensed to import and install solar systems, employing around 10,000 workers. However, most lack recognized professional certification.

To bridge this gap, the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority and the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka have launched a program to train 5,000 solar technicians and 100 inspectors annually. So far, 1,500 technicians have been trained, with a fast‑track scheme now awarding NVQ Level 3 qualifications free of charge to those with more than two years’ industry experience.

The Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka has gazetted regulations requiring NVQ Level 3 as the minimum qualification for solar technicians between Jan. 1, 2028 and Dec. 31, 2029. From Jan. 1, 2030, technicians must hold NVQ Level 4 in solar technology and be registered as engineering technicians. The PUCSL states that this will raise professional standards, ensure electrical safety, and support national renewable energy goals.

Parallel reforms are underway in the cooling sector. The National Ozone Unit of the Environment Ministry, together with the Public Utilities Commission, is offering free NVQ 3 and NVQ 4 qualifications to refrigeration, air conditioning, and vehicle air conditioning technicians. Regulations imposed on July 7, 2026 require NVQ Level 3 by 2028, with NVQ Level 4 and registration with the Institution of Engineers mandatory from 2030.

Authorities expect these measures to elevate technical standards, enhance safety, and contribute to both renewable energy targets and environmental protection goals. (Newswire)

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The Court of Appeal has ordered that a petition filed by 17 solar power service providers be taken up for consideration on August 4. The petition seeks to annul a Cabinet decision to reduce payments for electricity purchased from solar producers.

The petitioners argue that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and Lanka Electricity Company (LECO) began lowering tariffs for rooftop solar energy from July 1, following the Cabinet’s directive.

They claim this decision was made without approval from the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), as required under the Electricity Act.

Despite PUCSL reportedly instructing that the revised tariffs should not be implemented without its approval, the price reductions went ahead, the petitioners said.

The petitioners requested court to suspend the implementation of the price cut until the case is resolved and to declare the Cabinet decision legally invalid. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Power and Energy has announced a one-time migration between schemes for Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and Lanka Electricity Company (LECO) rooftop solar customers.

Taking to ‘X’, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said CEB and LECO rooftop solar customers will be allowed a one-time migration between Net Plus, Net Metering and Net Accounting Schemes from next week. 

“The same rate at which the Power Purchasing Agreement was signed will be applied in migrating between the schemes,” he further said. 

Minister Wijesekera added that rooftop financing schemes will also be introduced by the CEB and LECO for new rooftop developments starting in December this year. (NewsWire)

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