President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will today inaugurate Sri Lanka’s first grid-scale standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility, developed jointly by WindForce PLC and Vidullanka PLC, marking a significant milestone in the country’s transition towards a cleaner and more resilient energy system.
Located in Anuradhapura, the 10 MW/40 MWh BESS facility is the first of 13 projects being developed through StoreX (Pvt) Ltd. WindForce and Vidullanka secured 13 of the 16 projects awarded nationwide through international competitive bidding under Sri Lanka’s first grid-scale standalone BESS programme.
Once all 13 facilities are commissioned, they will collectively provide 130 MW of power and 520 MWh of energy storage capacity. The remaining 12 facilities are scheduled to be commissioned progressively.
Developed under a 15-year Build, Own and Operate framework, the BESS facilities are designed to strengthen the country’s electricity system by storing surplus power generated during periods of high renewable energy production and releasing it during peak evening and night-time demand.
The technology is expected to support the greater integration of renewable energy into the national grid while improving grid stability and providing greater flexibility in managing fluctuations between electricity generation and demand.
President Dissanayake will also inaugurate Sri Lanka’s largest floating solar power plant, a 5 MW facility developed by Diyajanani (Pvt) Ltd and fully owned by WindForce.
The floating solar facility is expected to generate approximately 9 GWh of electricity annually, equivalent to the annual electricity requirements of around 10,000 households. The project is also estimated to prevent approximately 6,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year, contributing to Sri Lanka’s efforts to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation.
The project created around 150 employment opportunities during its construction phase and has generated 12 permanent positions following its completion.
With the commissioning of the two renewable energy projects, WindForce’s total renewable energy generation capacity will increase to approximately 268 MW, further expanding its contribution to Sri Lanka’s renewable energy sector.
The inauguration of the standalone BESS facility and floating solar power plant represents a significant development in Sri Lanka’s renewable energy landscape. Together, the projects are expected to enhance the country’s ability to integrate renewable power, manage peak demand and build a more flexible, resilient and sustainable electricity system.
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