Uttar Pradesh Plans ₹5,500 Crore Investment in Battery Storage for Green Energy

The Uttar Pradesh government is considering a substantial investment of ₹5,500 crore to enhance its green energy capabilities through improved energy storage infrastructure. This initiative targets meeting the state’s anticipated energy storage requirement of 53,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) by the fiscal year 2035-36.

Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL) plans to install battery storage systems at six of its thermal power stations located in Anpara, Obra, Harduaganj, Panki, Parichha, and Jawaharpur. These battery units are designed to store surplus energy generated during off-peak hours, particularly from solar sources, and supply power during periods when solar generation is not available. This approach is a key element of the resource adequacy strategy formulated by the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL).

The project is expected to cover around 8 percent of the state’s projected energy demand, offering a reliable and local power source during peak consumption times. This will not only bolster the energy system’s stability but also reduce dependence on expensive external power purchases.

UPRVUNL Managing Director Mayur Maheshwari explained, "Battery storage will enable us to provide green power during non-solar hours, precisely when the demand is highest. This reduces the necessity to procure costly electricity from outside sources." He highlighted that the company already possesses the necessary land, switchyards, and grid evacuation infrastructure at the identified thermal stations to support the battery energy storage systems.

A feasibility study conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology and Banaras Hindu University evaluated the capacity needs for each plant. The analysis recommends 500 MWh storage at Anpara, 100 MWh at Obra, and 150 MWh apiece at Harduaganj, Panki, and Parichha. The Jawaharpur station is planned to host a significantly larger unit of 3,200 MWh, bringing the total battery storage capacity to 4,250 MWh.

This combined capacity aligns with approximately 8 percent of the 52,977 MWh additional storage requirement projected by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) in its Resource Adequacy Report for Uttar Pradesh covering 2026-27 through 2035-36. Furthermore, the battery storage will enhance round-the-clock energy security, support grid stability, and enable thermal units to maintain minimum technical load levels as required by the CEA.

Maheshwari also pointed out that this initiative complements broader development goals such as Viksit Bharat and the Uttar Pradesh Vision 2047. He noted that strengthening clean energy infrastructure is integral to advancing the state’s ambition of creating a $1 trillion economy, promoting sustainable growth alongside energy security.

In addition to infrastructure plans, a report titled Powering Uttar Pradesh’s Green Economy: Jobs, Skills and Entrepreneurship, produced by the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology, recommends that the state government focus on aligning workforce skills with the emerging green economy sectors. Uttar Pradesh’s green economy is projected to generate approximately 780,000 jobs by 2035. These employment opportunities are expected to span multiple industries including renewable energy, green hydrogen production, electric mobility, recycling, agroforestry, and forest restoration.

Renewable energy alone could create around 200,000 direct jobs, especially in operations and maintenance roles, underscoring the sector’s potential to contribute to both economic growth and environmental sustainability.

This investment in battery storage infrastructure represents a significant step for Uttar Pradesh as it works to modernize its power systems and embrace cleaner energy sources. The move aligns with national and global priorities to reduce carbon footprints and increase the share of renewable energy in the power mix, while also addressing the challenge of supply-demand balance through advanced storage technology.