MSEDCL plans ₹20,000 crore battery storage project for 16,000MW solar power
In a major push for renewable energy integration, the
Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd
(MSEDCL) is planning a Rs20,000 crore project to set up battery-based storage units for 16,000MW that will be generated through solar power. To make the ambitious project financially viable, MSEDCL has sought viability gap funding (
VGF
) from the
Central
govt. The storage units are aimed at conserving surplus solar energy for use during peak demand hours in the night.
A senior MSEDCL official confirmed that the proposal seeking subsidy has already been sent to the Central govt.
MSEDCL is currently implementing Mukhyamantri
Saur Krishi
Vahini Yojana 2.0, under which several solar parks are being constructed across the state to generate 16,000MW. The project deadline is 2026. However, MSEDCL sources said that currently, there is no facility to store the excess generated power at this level.
To store the excess power, MSEDCL is going for
a Battery Energy Storage System
(BESS), for which it has also received approval from the
Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission
(
MERC
). A small contract has been awarded to a private firm. According to MSEDCL sources, the firm is now building storage facilities using BESS at 75 substations of the discom. "Excess solar power will be stored at these locations and later used during high demand. This power will be bought by MSEDCL from the firm at a lower cost," said the sources.
The first such project is being implemented for 750MW, for which 1,500MWh capacity needs to be built. MSEDCL sources also said that setting up the battery unit for 1MW costs around Rs1.25 crore and requires a 2MWh capacity. "So, for setting up storage units for 16,000MW, it will cost around Rs20,000 crore. The Central govt provides around Rs27 lakh per MWh, while the rest needs to be raised by the firms which bag the contracts. However, we have sent the subsidy proposal, and the Central govt will think over it," said the official.
In the contract already issued, the Central govt has given a subsidy for 500MWh, while the subsidy for 1,000MWh is pending. MSEDCL, however, wants to implement it on a large scale, so they have sent the proposal to the Central govt.
"If the subsidy is secured, then tenders will be floated, and different companies can bid for it. The firms will be provided a subsidy, and to recover the remaining money, they will sell the power to MSEDCL, which too will benefit because of the low cost of power," said MSEDCL sources.
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