The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has invited tenders from bidders for the installation of 200MW/200MWh Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), aimed at upgrading the national grid to better accommodate renewable energy sources.
According to reports, the project will be funded through a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The ADB had previously extended a $150 million loan to support grid modernization efforts and enhance renewable energy integration.
The proposed battery systems are expected to be installed at the Kolonnawa Grid Substation. The CEB has called for two separate tenders, each for 100MW/100MWh capacity.
Officials noted that as renewable energy generation is inherently intermittent, particularly from solar and wind sources, significant grid investments are required—beyond the initial cost of power plants—to maintain stability and prevent failures caused by voltage fluctuations.
Battery systems are seen as a rapid-response solution, capable of balancing supply and demand almost instantly.
In addition to these efforts, the CEB is also planning a long-term pumped storage hydropower project, designed to operate for decades and provide large-scale energy storage similar to existing hydroelectric facilities that store energy by transferring water between reservoirs.
