Tata Power, India’s largest integrated power company, has secured approval from the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) to install a 100MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) across Mumbai. The installation, scheduled over the next two years, will span 10 strategic locations and aims to enhance the city’s grid resilience and ensure uninterrupted power supply to critical infrastructure.
The state-of-the-art BESS, featuring advanced ‘black start’ functionality, will facilitate rapid restoration of power during grid disturbances. It will protect essential services including the Mumbai Metro, hospitals, airports, and data centers from large-scale blackouts. The system is also designed to optimize reactive power management, improve peak demand efficiency, and reinforce the city’s overall electricity infrastructure.
In addition to strengthening grid stability, the BESS will play a critical role in peak load management, utilizing its high ramp-rate capability to balance power supply during high-demand periods. It will further reduce power purchase costs by storing energy during off-peak, low-cost periods and discharging during peak hours, potentially leading to lower tariffs for consumers. By efficiently managing load fluctuations, Tata Power also aims to defer major capital expenditure on infrastructure upgrades.
The BESS will offer ancillary services such as frequency regulation and voltage support, enhancing the stability of Mumbai’s grid. It will also bolster the integration of renewable energy sources by storing surplus solar power generated during the day and redistributing it during peak demand, thus promoting greater consumption of green energy.
All 10 installations will be centrally monitored and controlled through Tata Power’s Power System Control Center (PSCC), ensuring streamlined operation and management. Future integration with the Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS) is also planned to further enhance operational efficiency.
Safety remains a priority, with the BESS featuring a three-tiered temperature monitoring and fire suppression system at the cell, module, and rack levels. The system promises high round-trip efficiency, minimal auxiliary consumption, and an extended operational lifespan to meet Mumbai’s long-term energy sustainability goals.
As Tata Power drives innovation and clean energy adoption, the BESS initiative marks a pivotal step toward a more reliable, resilient, and future-ready power network for Mumbai.
