IndiGrid commissions India’s first standalone utility-scale battery

KKR-backed power-sector investment trust IndiGrid has commissioned what it says is India’s first regulated utility-scale standalone BESS. The system is connected to the distribution network and will provide grid stabilization services.

The 20 MW/40 MWh project, Kilokari BESS Private Ltd, in Delhi, is IndiGrid’s maiden commercial BESS endeavor. It has been designed to seamlessly integrate renewable energy into the distribution level grid system, facilitate grid stabilization, manage peak power demand, and address various ancillary needs, stated IndiGrid.

IndiGrid was awarded the project in October 2023 by BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd (BRPL). It commissioned the project in record time with the support of BRPL, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, Ampere-hour Energy and IndiGrid’s other partners.

Harsh Shah, chief executive officer, and whole time director of IndiGrid, said, “Battery energy storage is a key enabler of a resilient and efficient power system in India as the country moves toward a cleaner energy mix. The ability to store and dispatch power intelligently will be essential in maintaining grid stability and optimizing renewable integration. This project represents a step forward in that direction.”

IndiGrid owns and operates a diversified portfolio of assets across transmission lines, solar generation, and BESS across the country. Over the last few years, it has also ventured into greenfield projects and expansions. And since then, IndiGrid has commissioned six projects under tariff-based competitive bidding and the regulated tariff mechanism, for both transmission and BESS.

IndiGrid owns 41 power projects, consisting of 49 transmission lines with more than 8,700 km in length, 15 substations with 22,550 MVA transformation capacity, 855 MW (AC) (1.1 GWp) of solar generation capacity, and 450 MW/900 MWh of battery energy storage systems. IndiGrid has assets under management of over INR 294 billion ($3.44 billion).

From pv magazine India.