Approximately 12,500 MW (12.5 GW) of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects are currently under the tendering process, with an additional 3,300 MW (3.3 GW) in the pipeline, according to Central Electricity Authority (CEA) Chairperson Ghanshyam Prasad.

Speaking on the second day of the India Energy Storage Week, organised by the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), Prasad noted that the upcoming projects are expected to add around 8,500 megawatt hours (MWh) of storage capacity within the next two years. In addition, another 42,000 MWh of BESS capacity is under tender.

Despite these plans, India’s existing BESS capacity remains limited, standing at just 205 MW, or roughly 506 MWh.

Prasad also stated that the government aims to add around 3,000 MW of hydro pumped storage project (PSP) capacity this year. The longer-term goal is to scale up hydro PSP capacity from the current 5 GW to 50 GW over the next five to six years.