India to Pilot Battery Storage at Coal Plants to Support Renewable Grid

India plans to test battery storage systems at select coal power plants to tackle grid stability challenges arising from its fast-growing solar capacity. The move aims to ensure uninterrupted power supply while accommodating renewable energy fluctuations. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has tasked NTPC, the country’s largest coal power producer, to pilot the initiative, with funding support already in place. The batteries will help coal plants store excess solar power and release it later, allowing plants to run steadily without frequent ramping up or down. This experiment comes as India targets 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, while also expanding coal capacity to maintain energy security. NTPC recently issued a tender for 1.7 GW of battery storage across 11 coal stations.