India becomes the storage of the battery in coal-fired power plants to increase the lunch noton and to prepare the thermal capacity for the evening summit-to destabilize the network.

The movement aims at a growing bond: Solar is now forcing coal units to resist during the day, but demand is still leaning towards it after sunset. With a 2030 goal of 500 GW not fossil capacityThis tension only increases.

“Sometimes there are only two options. Either you closed the carbon system (during excess sun production) or lose the thermal capacity in the evening that we do not want,” said Ghanhyam Prasad, Chairman of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA)at Powergen India 2025 In Neu -Delhi. “We only try this as an experiment.”

In order to test a way out, the CEA NTPC, India’s largest coal generator, has to install, batteries in selected plants with financing support. The idea is simple: cargo, when renewable production is high and later derived, the coal units run more constantly, reduce the cycling costs and possibly extend the lifespan of the assets.

NTPC has already issued A 1.7 GW Battery advertisement in 11 coal -fired power plants – Amgnen of the world’s largest. It comprises 300 MW of four hours (1,200 MWh) and 1,400 MW of two hours (2,800 MWh), which were designed for over 12 years for twice a day.

The scale is important because India’s transition is a balancing act. Accelerate renewable energies, However, the coal remains of central importance for the around the clock. The government plans to add 97 GW coal capacity by 2035 and to lift the fleet to about 307 GW Also as flexibility and storage.

But flexibility is not free. Coal units at lower loads can be accelerated by coal units at lower loads. “If we maintain the operation at this level for extended persons, the expected lifespan of a work – usually around 25 years – could be reduced by a third or more,” said Ravinder Kumar, director of NTPC operations.

The regulation presses in the same direction. Coal -fired power plants must now work on a minimum load of 55% and meet the specified ramps. A 40% destination It is considered, although NTPC has marked the durability risks with local transport and initially keeps its technical minimum 55%.

All of this unfolds against a strong lack of retention. India only has approx. 500 MWh of operational batteries compared to a multi-gigawatt requirement in the early 2030s. However, around 12.5 GW of projects are signposted with another 3.3 GW in the pipeline, which is supported by the union government’s profitability promotion system, which includes around 30% of the capital costs.

When the pilot works, coal batteries could become a practical bridge, even more flexibility from existing thermal assets and at the same time a quick renewable growth. It would also offer a template for coal -dependent economies that try to integrate variable renewable energies without compromise.