Guwahati Signs INR 2000 Cr MoU for 250 MW/500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System

BESS in Guwahati

ONGC Tripura Company Ltd and Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd have joined forces for the development of a Battery Energy Storage System Project of 250 MW / 500 MWh capacity in Guwahati. Valued at INR 2000 Cr, the project will be executed in a phased manner.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Nandita Gorlosa, Minister of Power, Cooperation, Mines and Minerals, Indigenous & Tribal Faith and Cultural Department, Government of Assam, who said that the project is a milestone as it will facilitate the State in leading the green energy transition. Expeditious execution of the project was advised.

Rakesh Kumar (IAS), Managing Director, APDCL this solar energy capacity and battery energy storage project holds immense importance towards the successful integration of solar power projects that are in the pipeline while adding that following the said project, Assam will be a leader in the execution of energy storage system.

Sanil C. Namboodiripad, Managing Director, ONGC Tripura Power Company Limited (OTPC)- a joint venture firm between ONGC, GAIL, Government of Tripura and India Infrastructure Fund-II, shed light on the many benefits that the project offers. To begin with, the project will ensure that power availability is improved during peak load hours. This will further upgrade the integration of renewable energy generation with the electricity grid, which will result in improving grid reliability. Besides, multiple direct and indirect opportunities for employment will be created in the wake of the construction and operation of the project.

Notably, OTPC owns as well as operates a 726 MW gas-based combined cycle power plant in Tripura. This helps meet  25% of all the energy demand of all the states of the north-east. OTPC is looking to establish energy storage systems all over India. In September 2022, a microgrid power plant of 2 KW was installed at several hamlets of Tripura that were plagued with lack of power.

The first grid-connected megawatt hour-scale BESS was established in Modhera, Gujarat, equipped with a ground-mounted solar power plant. In layman terms, a BESS is a device that stores energy from the grid or a power plant for later use when there are high power demands.