COLOMBO (News 1st) - Sri Lanka plans to introduce a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts within the next two years to meet high electricity demand during peak night-time hours, Energy Minister Anura Karunatilaka told Parliament.The Minister outlined the government's strategy to strengthen the national grid while accelerating the country's transition towards renewable energy.Karunatilaka said Sri Lanka has recorded significant growth in rooftop solar power generation over the past year. According to the Minister, installed rooftop solar capacity increased from 867 megawatts in 2024 to more than 1,674 megawatts in 2025, representing a doubling of capacity within a year.He noted that while renewable energy, particularly solar power, plays an increasingly important role in the country's energy mix, maintaining grid stability remains a major challenge. The Minister explained that a power system cannot rely solely on solar generation and requires sufficient inertia and balancing mechanisms to ensure stable operations.To address these challenges, the government is developing plans to utilise alternative methods, including support from hydropower facilities, to provide the system stability required as renewable energy generation expands.Karunatilaka pointed out that Sri Lanka is able to harness significant amounts of renewable energy during daylight hours, but peak electricity demand during the night continues to pose a challenge for the power sector.As part of the solution, the government has introduced Battery Energy Storage Systems aimed at storing surplus renewable energy generated during the day and deploying it during periods of high demand.The Minister said that by the end of next year, an additional 560 megawatts of battery storage capacity will be connected to the national grid.He further revealed that the government's target is to introduce a total battery storage capacity of 1,200 megawatts within the next two years, enabling stored energy to be utilised for up to four hours daily during peak demand periods.
