Galle Grid Substation
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Template:Infobox power station
The Galle Grid Substation (also called Bataduwa Grid Substation) is a 132 kV electrical substation located in Bataduwa, near Galle, in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. The facility serves as a distribution gateway for the Galle District, stepping down high-voltage power from the national transmission grid for regional distribution. The substation is owned and operated by the state-owned National Transmission Network Service Provider (NTNSP). The site is notable for hosting Sri Lanka's first commercial-scale battery energy storage system.[1][2][3]
Operations
The Galle Grid Substation is a transmission-level node. It receives bulk electricity from the national 132 kV transmission network and utilizes step-down transformers to reduce the voltage to 33 kV. This medium-voltage electricity is then channelled through various distribution feeders to smaller primary substations and pole-mounted transformers. These secondary facilities step the voltage down further to the standard 230 V required for residential and commercial consumers.[4]
Battery Energy Storage System
In 2026, the substation became the site of the Galle BESS (also referred to as the Bataduwa BESS). Commisioned on 10 September 2026, it is the first commercial grid-scale battery energy storage system to be connected to the Sri Lankan national electricity grid.[1] The Galle project is the first of 16 planned 10 MW BESS units aimed at modernizing the national transmission network and reducing reliance on fossil fuel power stations during peak hours.[5][6]
Operations
The BESS facility is situated adjacent to the main substation switchyard in Bataduwa. It has a continuous power output capacity of 10 MW and a total storage capacity of 40 MWh, allowing it to discharge at its full rated capacity for approximately four hours. The system operates by absorbing and storing surplus electricity generated from renewable sources during the daytime. This stored energy is then released back into the grid during the evening when consumer demand increases. In addition to time-shifting energy, the battery system provides frequency and voltage regulation to maintain grid stability.[7]
Ownership
The Galle BESS was developed and implemented by Galilee BESS Limited, a subsidiary of WKV Hydro Technics, which is entirely owned by the Singapore-based energy firm Khen Energy Ltd. The facilty was developed under a Build, Own, and Operate model. Under this 15-year arrangement, Galilee BESS Limited is responsible for financing, constructing, operating, and maintaining the battery facility, while the utility company pays to utilize the storage service.[8][9]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Sri Lanka begins Battery Storage Era with first 10 MW BESS – NPP MP". Newswire. 12 September 2026. https://www.newswire.lk/2026/09/12/sri-lanka-begins-battery-storage-era-with-first-10-mw-bess-npp-mp/.
- ↑ "Sri Lanka’s first commercial‑level Battery Energy Storage System joins National Grid in Galle". Newswire. 15 September 2026. https://www.newswire.lk/2026/09/15/sri-lankas-first-commercial%E2%80%91level-battery-energy-storage-system-joins-national-grid-in-galle/.
- ↑ "Sri Lanka To Commission Galle BESS Today". Newsfirst. 20 September 2026. https://www.newsfirst.lk/2026/09/20/sri-lanka-to-commission-galle-bess-today-20.
- ↑ "NTNSP: Ceylon Grid". National Transmission Network Service Provider. https://ntnsp.lk/ceylon-grid.
- ↑ "Sri Lanka Has Just Built a Giant Battery. It Could Change How We Make Electricity". Ceylon Independent. 16 September 2026. https://www.independent.lk/sri-lanka-has-just-built-a-giant-battery-it-could-change-how-we-make-electricity/.
- ↑ "Sri Lanka Powers Ahead: Galle Battery Energy Storage System Set for Commissioning". Lanka Newspapers. 20 September 2026. https://www.lankanewspapers.com/2026/09/20/sri-lanka-powers-ahead-galle-battery-energy-storage-system-set-for-commissioning.
- ↑ Hussain, Jiffry (15 September 2026). "Galle Gets First Commercial Battery Storage System Connected to National Grid". Businessnews.lk. https://businessnews.lk/2026/09/15/galle-gets-first-commercial-battery-storage-system-connected-to-national-grid/.
- ↑ "USD 50 mn battery storage investment expected to power SL’s renewable energy push". Sunday Island. 3 June 2026. https://island.lk/usd-50-mn-battery-storage-investment-expected-to-power-sls-renewable-energy-push/.
- ↑ "A milestone moment for energy transition in Sri Lanka". Daily FT. 22 May 2026. https://www.ft.lk/business/A-milestone-moment-for-energy-transition-in-Sri-Lanka/34-792290.
External links
- "Landmark Energy Storage Project Begins With Arrival of BESS Units in Sri Lanka". Daily News. 23 May 2026. https://dailynews.lk/2026/05/23/local/999445/landmark-energy-storage-project-begins-with-arrival-of-bess-units-in-sri-lanka/.
- Bulathsinghala, Gagan (18 September 2026). "A nation powered by nature: Sri Lanka's first battery energy storage system commissioning turns new chapter in energy journey". Daily Mirror. https://www.dailymirror.lk/opinion/A-nation-powered-by-nature-Sri-Lankas-first-battery-energy-storage-system-commissioning-turns-new-chapter-in-energy-journey/172-350554.