In Short :Four grid-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) have been approved by the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) to be installed at KSEB substations in Sreekantapuram (Alappuzha), Pothencode (Thiruvananthapuram), Mulleria (Kasaragod), and Areacode (Malappuram). This action is intended to help the state’s sustainable energy transition, manage excess solar power, and improve system dependability.
Project Specifics and Execution Methodology
Capacity in total: 125 MW/500 MWh.
Pothencode and Sreekantapuram: 40 MW and 160 MWh, respectively.
15 MW and 60 MWh Mulleria.
Areacode: 120 MWh/30 MW.
With a project timetable of 15 months from the implementation agreement, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has been designated as the implementing agency under the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) program. Additionally, accelerated finishing has been promoted.
The four project developers selected through competitive bidding, who will construct and run the BESS under long-term power purchase agreements, have submitted monthly capacity prices that KSERC has authorized.
Impact of Clean Energy and System Resilience
These BESS systems, which even out variations during times of high solar generation, will be essential for energy efficiency.
They make it possible to integrate renewable energy, which lessens dependency on peaker plants that run on fossil fuels and promotes climate action.
The initiatives promote Kerala’s energy transition and improve grid stability, which boosts the green economy and opens the door for infrastructure renovation and employment development based on just transformation.
The Significance of It
An important step in incorporating energy storage systems into Kerala’s renewable energy framework has been taken with the approval of these four BESS projects by KSERC. By increasing battery capacity, solar power may be banked and dispatched more effectively, reducing carbon intensity and improving grid resilience. This infrastructure strengthens Kerala’s commitment to climate action, clean energy, and workforce development for renewable energy and serves as the cornerstone for a resilient, sustainable, and equitable energy future.
