NTPC Green Energy Ltd (NGEL), a subsidiary of NTPC Ltd, has invited bids for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of a 250 MW/1,000 MWh grid-connected battery energy storage system (BESS) at its Kayamkulam thermal power plant in Kerala. The tender marks another milestone in India’s push toward strengthening its energy storage infrastructure as part of the energy transition roadmap.
The turnkey project includes the design, engineering, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning of the BESS, along with a 15-year comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&M) contract post successful trial runs.
To optimize grid integration and operational flexibility, the project is structured in two distinct blocks:
- Block 1: 125 MW/500 MWh, to be connected via the 33 kV existing solar pooling switchgear
- Block 2: 125 MW/500 MWh, to be connected via the 220 kV switchyard
The tender specifies that the battery system should be delivered in standardized containerized formats, with each unit offering a minimum direct current (DC) capacity of 5 MWh. This modular approach will support easier deployment, maintenance, and scalability of the system.
This large-scale deployment at Kayamkulam underscores NTPC Green Energy’s ambition to not only decarbonize its generation assets but also provide flexibility and reliability to the grid through advanced energy storage systems. Once completed, the 1,000 MWh capacity will serve as a critical reserve for peak demand management, renewable integration, and grid balancing.
The initiative aligns with India’s broader vision to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, and meet the growing need for firm, dispatchable power to complement intermittent renewables like solar and wind.
