NTPC invites global bids for a 1 GWh grid-scale battery storage

State-run National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ltd has invited a global tender for setting up a 1,000 MWh or 1 GWh grid-scale battery storage system. The plan includes designing, building, and operating. It also provides a co-investment partnership. 1 GWh of battery capacity is enough to power 1 million homes for an hour and around 30,000 electric cars. The battery storage can help India's electricity grids and provide clean energy targets to the country from clean energy sources like solar and wind. In such a case, battery storage is necessary for on-demand electricity from wind and solar projects. According to the Expression of Interest (EoI), India's largest power generator intends to set up a 1,000 MWh of Grid-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at single or split across different NTPC power plants in India. NTPC has invited EoI from any Indian or Global company and their representatives. The Central Electricity Authority's Optimal Generation mix reports the need for 27 GW of grid-scale battery energy storage systems with four hours of storage by 2030, EoI said. The EoI is to assess the commercialization prospects of the grid-scale battery energy storage system. The BESS is to be set within NTPC's power plant premises. After finding the interested applicants in setting up a 1,000 MWh grid-scale battery storage system, a Request for Proposal for undertaking the project at single or split across the NTPC's power plants will be invited individually for setting up the facility and model for further requirements, EoI added. According to the EoI, the grid-scale battery energy storage systems has become a matter of intensive research in recent times in India owing to the challenge of integrating large amounts of variable renewable energy (VRE) in the power grid. The last date to submit the EoI is August 10. NTPC has around 4 GW of renewable solar capacity and plans to add at least 5 GW of solar power capacity within two years. Battery makers are trying to take advantage of the government's Rs 18,100 crore production linked incentive (PLI) scheme to manufacture lithium-ion cells. A RIL case announced that it plans to set up an Advanced Energy Storage Gigafactory. The EoI said that the conventional fleet of NTPC will be increasingly required to operate and support the grid flexibly, as VRE penetration is increasing in India's power system under its policy-driven initiative to increase its installed capacity share from non-fossil fuel power sources by 2030 and beyond. Image Source Also read: Indian Railways invites bids for 15 MW solar project with battery storage Also read: Dalhousie University receives grant from NSERC, Tesla for EV battery