The National Innovation Agency has presented locally developed technologies focused on energy storage applications, leveraging Sri Lanka's scientific capabilities and natural resources including vein graphite and biomass waste.
The National Innovation Agency (NIA) unveiled three domestically developed energy storage technologies at its third Dolphin Tech Pitch event held in Colombo on August 25. The showcase, themed "Emerging Graphite & Carbon Technologies for Energy Storage," brought together researchers, industry representatives, financial institutions and potential investors to facilitate the transition of Sri Lankan research from laboratory settings to commercial deployment.
The three technologies represent different approaches to energy storage advancement. Researchers from the National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS), led by Prof. G.R.A. Kumara, developed a method to convert locally sourced biomass waste into high-value energy-storage materials. A second project from the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), presented by Dr. R. Chinthaka L. De Silva, aims to enhance lead-acid battery performance through advanced electrode engineering and graphene derivative modification. The third technology, developed by the late Dr. Athula Wijayasinghe and colleagues at NIFS, focuses on creating higher-value applications from Sri Lanka's high-purity vein graphite through an intellectual property-protected platform for purification and surface modification.
According to the NIA, these initiatives reflect opportunities to combine Sri Lanka's scientific expertise and natural resources with growing international demand for advanced energy-storage solutions. During the event, technology developers engaged in direct discussions with investors and industry partners regarding market potential, scalability, investment requirements and commercialization pathways. The NIA indicated that the programme aims to bridge gaps between research institutions and commercial sectors, positioning local innovations within global energy storage markets.
