Uttarakhand has approved four Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects with a combined capacity of 76 MW and 190 MWh. The facilities, planned at Dhakrani, Khatima, Pathri and Tiloth, will store electricity during periods of lower demand and supply it during peak hours.

The Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC) has conditionally approved the tariffs and draft Battery Energy Storage Purchase Agreements. The approvals followed tariff-based competitive bidding conducted by Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam (UJVNL), with projects allocated across Dehradun, Udham Singh Nagar, Haridwar and Uttarkashi districts.

Patanjali Renewable Energy will develop the 30 MW/75 MWh Dhakrani project, the 15 MW/37.5 MWh Khatima project and the 16 MW/40 MWh Pathri project. Armee Infotech will undertake the 15 MW/37.5 MWh Tiloth project after accepting the lowest tariff quoted by Patanjali Renewable Energy. The tender terms restricted a single bidder to two projects, resulting in the transfer of the Tiloth award to the L-2 bidder.

The approved monthly tariffs are Rs. 269,832 per MW for Dhakrani, Rs. 279,501 for Pathri, Rs. 279,782 for Khatima and Rs. 280,000 for Tiloth. These rates are below comparable tariffs cited for projects in Delhi and Punjab, including approximately Rs. 0.3 mn per MW per month for a 12.5 MW Delhi project and about Rs. 0.34 mn for projects in Punjab.

The projects are being supported under the Union Ministry of Power’s Viability Gap Funding scheme through the Power System Development Fund. Uttarakhand was allocated 500 MWh of storage capacity, with 250 MWh being implemented through UJVNL, while the Centre will provide Rs. 1.8 mn per MWh in three instalments. The batteries will be charged through the Uttarakhand Power Corporation system when solar and hydropower are relatively available and will discharge between 6 pm and 9 pm, helping manage peak demand, improve grid flexibility and reduce reliance on expensive power exchange purchases.