ONGC Tripura Power Company Ltd (OTPCL), a subsidiary of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), has partnered with Assam Power Development Corporation Ltd to develop a 250 megawatt (MW) battery energy storage system in Assam. The project aims to store solar power and release it during peak demand hours or at night, when solar energy is unavailable.
A senior official involved in the project said the collaboration seeks to bring battery-based storage technology to the region. The system will be built in phases, considering the technology is still relatively new in the energy sector.
The storage system will function like an energy warehouse. It will collect and hold solar electricity and distribute it when demand is high. Once operational, it will be the first large-scale energy storage facility of its kind in northeastern India. The project is expected to boost solar energy use and improve the reliability of power supply in the region.
OTPCL was formed in 2008 as a joint venture between ONGC, the Government of Tripura, and Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS). The company operates a 726.6 MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power plant in Palatana, Tripura. The plant uses natural gas from nearby ONGC reserves to meet regional electricity needs and supply the national power grid. In 2022, GAIL (India) Limited acquired a 26% equity stake in OTPCL from IL&FS Group companies, increasing its footprint in the northeastern energy market.
Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL), which is working with OTPCL on this project, is the main electricity distributor in Assam. The company supplies power to more than 3.3 million consumers across the state. Its network includes 347 substations, around 65,000 kilometers of low and medium voltage lines, and more than 64,000 distribution transformers.
APDCL is also working to modernize its infrastructure. It is investing in off-grid solar projects for remote areas that do not have access to the conventional power grid. The company plays a vital role in delivering reliable electricity to both urban and rural communities, helping support industrial development and improve living standards.
