India's MPPMCL (M.P. Power Management Company Limited) has put forth an expression of interest (EOI), calling for the installation of a 500 MW energy storage facility in India.
The project is meant to uphold the quality, reliability, and safety of the grid, as well as the provision of auxiliary services, on top of augmenting the interests of local consumers.
It is prompted by the Indian government’s efforts to rapidly increase the share of renewable energy in India's power market. Under the country's "must-run" policy, the Indian government has refrained from imposing restrictions on the development of renewable energy, even in areas where there are already an excess of power supply.
For instance, in the Madhya Pradesh state, which receives its power from MPPMCL, the total capacity of renewable energy had topped 3,827 MW as of Jan. 31, 2019, for a whopping 19.3% share.
MPPMCL's energy storage facility envisions a modular design, featuring high flexibility, high efficiency, long discharge time, and a lower maintenance cost. The open bidding for the project will be held in the near future.