MONETABRIEF – Sri Lanka's power grid is expecting prices from a tender for 250MW/1000MWh battery energy systems to be cheaper than a comparable acquisition made last year, an official said.
Last year the first tender to get 160MW BESS was around 20 rupee a unit, officials said at the time.
A tender for 250MW in BESS is now being evaluation.
"There is a 10 to 15 percent reduction," Chairman of Sri Lanka's National System Operator, Pradeep Perera said.
"Even though the rupee depreciated, the price of the tender has reduced over a few months. What is shows is the competitive bidding is helping reduce costs."
The first 160MW and the 250MW BESS systems are effectively leased to the national grid to be used as they want, for which a monthly fee is paid, he said.
A recent tender for BESS at existing solar plants which went for around 20 rupee to close to 28 rupee was not on the same basis, he said.
The BESS at the existing plants were selling energy in the night and it was an energy charge, he said. (Colombo/Oct05/2026)