In a significant move towards green energy, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Thursday the state's readiness to allocate 350 acres of land to power utility CESC for a massive battery energy storage system. The announcement was made during a Business & Industry Conclave held in Kolkata.
Land Allocation for a Green Vision
The Chief Minister specified that the land is available in the Uttarpara area. She directed company officials to formally present a proposal for the land at the upcoming state cabinet meeting. This development follows a request from CESC, which had initially sought 600 acres for the ambitious project.
The project is the brainchild of the RPSG Group and CESC chairman, Sanjiv Goenka. He recently stated that Kolkata is on track to become the first metropolitan city in India where at least 50% of the power demand is met by renewable energy sources. To achieve this landmark goal, CESC is planning to establish a 5,000-megawatt battery storage unit in West Bengal, with a proposed investment of a staggering Rs 12,000 crore.
How the Battery Storage Will Transform Kolkata's Power
This large-scale storage facility will be integrated with CESC's existing power plants, which supply electricity to Kolkata and its adjacent regions. The technology operates on peak and off-peak demand principles. During periods of low demand (off-peak hours), surplus power from the grid, ideally from renewable sources, will be used to charge the massive batteries. This stored energy is then discharged during high-demand (peak) hours, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and stabilizing the grid.
Sanjiv Goenka later informed that, if all goes according to plan, the project will take approximately five years to complete. "Once the project starts working, we can supply 50% of power to Kolkata from renewable sources. It would be the first of its kind for any metro city in the country," he emphasized. CESC has already submitted a formal application for the land required for this pioneering initiative.
Scale of Demand and Broader Investment Plans
The scale of the project aligns with Kolkata's power consumption. CESC faces a peak demand of around 2,500 MW during the summer months, which drops to about 1,500 MW in winter. The company currently operates four power plants located in Haldia, Budge Budge, Titagarh, and at the Southern Generating Station.
Elaborating on the RPSG Group's broader commitment to West Bengal, Goenka revealed plans for an incremental investment of Rs 15,800 crore in the state. This investment portfolio will extend beyond the energy sector to include the development of schools and hospitals. To date, the RPSG Group has invested a total of Rs 26,500 crore in Bengal, underscoring its long-term confidence in the state's economic landscape.
