Tamil Nadu launches battery storage policy to boost green energy
The state aims to create 10 GWh of storage capacity to improve grid stability and manage renewable energy generation.
The Tamil Nadu government has approved the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Policy 2026 to transform the state into a green energy hub, according to reports by Hindustan Times and The New Indian Express.
Electricity and Law Minister CTR Nirmal Kumar launched the policy on Tuesday at the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board headquarters in Chennai. The framework targets the deployment of at least 2.5 GW, or 10 GWh, of storage capacity.
Under the new rules, every new solar project of 1 MW and above commissioned from April 1, 2027, must integrate battery storage equal to at least 10 per cent of its sanctioned capacity with a four-hour discharge duration.
Minister Nirmal Kumar stated that the state cannot currently use approximately 3,000-4,000 MW of solar power generated during the day. The policy allows surplus electricity to be stored and discharged during peak demand periods.
To encourage private investment, the government is offering a 10-year waiver on transmission and wheeling charges for eligible projects that use the discharged energy within the state. Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited will serve as the nodal agency for the initiative.
The minister also introduced a single-window renewable energy application portal to allow developers to manage registration, document submission, and grid connectivity approvals online.