+
Perinjanam to Launch India’s First Panchayat-Level BESS Project
ECONOMY & POLICY

Perinjanam to Launch India’s First Panchayat-Level BESS Project

Perinjanam gram panchayat in Kerala is preparing to implement India’s first panchayat-level Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with a government sanction of Rs20 mn for the pilot project. The system will store three point one six megawatt (MW) of solar energy generated every month and supply it to the Electricity Department during peak night hours. The initiative is described as a pioneering model for decentralised renewable energy at local government level.

Under the BESS model, solar power produced during the day will be stored in a large lithium battery system and dispatched during hours of high demand when tariffs rise. The Electricity Department currently pays an average of Rs three point zero four per unit for direct solar supply while tariffs increase to Rs seven per unit during peak demand. The project is expected to increase revenue for the panchayat and participating households by enabling sales at higher tariffs.

Perinjanam’s solar transition began in 2018 under the leadership of K K Sachith and has expanded through rooftop installations on houses and public buildings. The programme now includes 860 households and more than 100 institutions that collectively generate three point one six MW every month. Community uptake was supported by local financing and administrative coordination.

The Perinjanam Cooperative Bank provided collateral free loans to participants, and all beneficiaries repaid their loans within four years and began earning income from surplus generation. A nine point five kilowatt (kW) installation at the Perinjanam Government School now powers around 800 streetlights and has reduced monthly street lighting expenditure from Rs90,000 to Rs32,000. The pilot BESS is expected to consolidate the panchayat’s role as a national exemplar of decentralised solar adoption and community led energy finance.

Perinjanam gram panchayat in Kerala is preparing to implement India’s first panchayat-level Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with a government sanction of Rs20 mn for the pilot project. The system will store three point one six megawatt (MW) of solar energy generated every month and supply it to the Electricity Department during peak night hours. The initiative is described as a pioneering model for decentralised renewable energy at local government level. Under the BESS model, solar power produced during the day will be stored in a large lithium battery system and dispatched during hours of high demand when tariffs rise. The Electricity Department currently pays an average of Rs three point zero four per unit for direct solar supply while tariffs increase to Rs seven per unit during peak demand. The project is expected to increase revenue for the panchayat and participating households by enabling sales at higher tariffs. Perinjanam’s solar transition began in 2018 under the leadership of K K Sachith and has expanded through rooftop installations on houses and public buildings. The programme now includes 860 households and more than 100 institutions that collectively generate three point one six MW every month. Community uptake was supported by local financing and administrative coordination. The Perinjanam Cooperative Bank provided collateral free loans to participants, and all beneficiaries repaid their loans within four years and began earning income from surplus generation. A nine point five kilowatt (kW) installation at the Perinjanam Government School now powers around 800 streetlights and has reduced monthly street lighting expenditure from Rs90,000 to Rs32,000. The pilot BESS is expected to consolidate the panchayat’s role as a national exemplar of decentralised solar adoption and community led energy finance.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

KONE Opens India's First Digital Experience Centre in Pune

KONE, a global elevator and escalator manufacturer, has inaugurated its first Digital Experience Centre (DEC) in India, located in Pune. The facility aims to showcase how artificial intelligence (AI), connectivity and data-driven technologies can enhance customer experiences and improve building operations.The centre was inaugurated by Jussi Herlin, Executive Vice Chair, KONE Corporation; Philippe Delorme, President and CEO, KONE; and Nandan Nilekani, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Infosys.Designed as an interactive customer environment, the facility demonstrates digital solutions cover..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

CII GreenCo Launches Circularity Guidelines for Indian Industry

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) GreenCo Council has launched the CII GreenCo Circularity Guidelines – Pilot Version at the 17th CII GreenCo Waste & Resource Management Summit 2026 in Chennai. The initiative aims to strengthen resource efficiency, waste reduction and circular economy practices across Indian manufacturing and process industries.The guidelines introduce a structured framework with circularity indices covering raw materials, consumables, packaging and other resource inputs. These indicators will help industries assess existing practices, identify opportunities to ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Global Electronics Association Launches IPC-1783-CO2E Standard

The Global Electronics Association has introduced IPC-1783-CO2E, a new international standard aimed at improving consistency, transparency and comparability in product carbon footprint reporting across the electronics manufacturing industry.The standard, titled International Standard for Data Collection and Reporting of CO2 Equivalent (CO2e) Emissions for the Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chain, provides industry-specific guidance for collecting, estimating and reporting carbon emissions data.With increasing regulatory requirements and customer expectations, electronics manufacturers face c..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code