SPML Infra Secures 1 GWh Battery Energy Storage Project from NTPC

Headline Options

• SPML Infra Secures Rs 1,128 Crore NTPC Mandate for 1 GWh Battery Storage Project in Bihar
• NTPC Awards Rs 1,128 Crore 1,000 MWh Battery Energy Storage Contract in Bihar to SPML Infra
• SPML Infra to Develop 1 GWh Storage Asset for NTPC in Bihar Under Rs 1,128 Crore Mandate

Lead Statement

In May 2026, NTPC Limited issued a Letter of Award (LoA) to SPML Infra Limited for the development of a 1 GWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the Barauni Thermal Power Station in Bihar. The contract, valued at Rs 1,128 crore (approximately $120 million), constitutes SPML Infra’s inaugural utility-scale grid-connected storage deployment. This mandate follows the company’s reporting of a robust Q3 FY26 financial performance, featuring EBITDA margins of 11.40%.

Project Scope and Technical Specifications

The project utilizes a 250 MW / 1,000 MWh configuration employing Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) chemistry. The technical execution covers:

• Cell and Container Architecture: The deployment utilizes 5 MWh liquid-cooled DC containers. Technical specifications refer to a 1P416S cell configuration and 2P416S clusters managed through a high-voltage box.
• System Management: Each unit includes an integrated Battery Management System (BMS) and a Thermal Management System (TMS) for fire risk and degradation control.
• Electrical Balance of Plant (BoP): The scope encompasses 33 kV panel boards, 220 kV DC and AC cabling, and the construction of a dedicated 220 kV switchyard for grid interconnection.

Execution Timeline and Operational Obligations

The contract defines a rigid 18-month execution window for project commissioning. Upon achieving operational status, SPML Infra enters a 15-year long-term service commitment for Operation and Maintenance (O&M), ensuring the grid-stability asset meets normative availability standards.

Strategic Functional Context and Corporate Roadmap

The Barauni BESS is designed for peak load management and grid stability, functioning to evacuate renewable power into existing thermal infrastructure. This award is part of NTPC’s aggregate 2.67 GWh tender involving seven thermal stations. Strategically, SPML Infra is transitioning from an EPC model toward technology-backed manufacturing through an exclusive 10-year agreement with Energy Vault (USA). This partnership provides access to B-VAULT technology and the VaultOS software platform, with a targeted BESS volume of at least 500 MWh over the next 12 months.

To support its energy storage roadmap, SPML has committed a Rs 175 crore investment for a manufacturing facility in Supa-Parner, Maharashtra. Phased development aims for 2.5 GWh capacity by Q1 FY27, scaling to 5 GWh by FY28.

Executive Attribution

Abhinandan Sethi, Managing Director of SPML Infra Limited, stated: “This order marks a defining moment for SPML Infra and a firm commitment to the large-scale battery energy storage sector. Energy storage will define how India powers its future, and we intend to be architects of that transformation. We are here to build the grid India needs — flexible, stable, and built for scale.”

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