Bihar Bets on Solar Plus Storage to Fix Evening Power Deficit Published By Anupam Nath The Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC) has approved a landmark plan for the state to procure 200 MW of solar power coupled with a 100 MW/400 MWh battery energy storage system through the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).�� This hybrid arrangement is designed to address Bihar’s growing evening power deficit while also helping the state meet its rising renewable purchase obligations (RPOs). The approved tariff for the project is around ₹3.42 per kWh, which is considered competitive compared to volatile peak power prices in the market.��At present, Bihar often has surplus solar generation during the day but struggles to meet demand in the evening peak hours, when consumption spikes and solar output drops. To bridge this gap, state utilities have frequently relied on electricity purchases from power exchanges, a strategy that is both costlier and unreliable during critical hours. The new project’s four-hour battery storage system is intended to store cheap daytime solar and deliver firm power in the evening window, ensuring more predictable supply for consumers.��The project structure allows for assured energy supply during key peak periods in the evening, significantly reducing the risk of load shedding. The battery system, sized at 400 MWh, can dispatch up to 100 MW continuously over four hours, which is particularly useful when demand is high and other sources are constrained.�� Over time, this is expected to lower the dependence on short-term, high-priced market purchases and improve grid stability in the state.From a policy perspective, the approval supports Bihar’s need to close a widening RPO gap over the coming years. Projections indicate that without new renewable capacity, the state would face a substantial deficit in meeting mandated green energy targets by the end of the decade.�� By locking in long-term solar-plus-storage supply, Bihar not only adds clean energy to its portfolio but also aligns with national goals of expanding renewables while integrating flexibility into the grid. Financial benefits are further enhanced through waivers on interstate transmission charges for both the solar and storage components under applicable regulations, improving the overall project economics.��For developers and investors, the project showcases how solar plus battery energy storage systems (BESS) are becoming central to India’s next phase of renewable expansion. The use of a long-term contract via SECI, with clearly defined tariffs and provisions for performance and penalties, underscores a maturing market structure around firm, dispatchable green power. For consumers in Bihar, the outcome could translate into fewer evening outages and a cleaner supply mix, illustrating how policy, regulation and technology can combine to solve real-world power system challenges.
