Premier Energies and RCT India to Establish 12 GWh Battery Storage Manufacturing Facility in Telangana

Joint Venture for Battery Energy Storage Systems

Premier Energies Limited and RCT India, a subsidiary of Germany's RCT Group, have entered into a binding term sheet to establish a joint venture. This collaboration aims to develop a 12 GWh battery energy storage system (BESS) manufacturing facility located in Telangana.

The new facility will operate under Premier Energies’ subsidiary, Premier Battery Technologies Private Limited. The project is planned for a phased development, with the initial phase targeting a production capacity of 6 GWh.

Market Focus and Export Strategy

The manufacturing plant is designed to address the demand for BESS solutions across various sectors, including commercial, industrial, and utility-scale applications. Its market reach will extend to both the domestic market in India and international markets.

A key strategic objective for the facility is its role as an export-oriented manufacturing platform. This will enable the joint venture to supply international markets directly from India, leveraging the manufacturing capabilities established in Telangana.

Contributions from Joint Venture Partners

Premier Energies Limited will contribute its manufacturing expertise and capabilities to the joint venture. RCT India, as part of the RCT Group, will provide its experience in the energy sector, engineering knowledge, and access to its international supply-chain network. This combination of resources is intended to support the development and operation of the new BESS manufacturing facility.

KEC International Secures ₹1,303 Crore in New Orders for Transmission and Distribution Projects

KEC International Ltd recently secured new orders valued at ₹1,303 crore, with the majority attributed to its power transmission and distribution (T&D) division. The company's T&D segment obtained contracts across India, the Middle East, and the Americas.

Domestically, KEC International will construct a 400 kV transmission line in Northern India. This project is designed to evacuate power from a hydroelectric plant for an existing private client. Internationally, the company expanded its operations in the Middle East with multiple contracts for 380 kV transmission lines in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, KEC International received orders to supply towers, hardware, and poles throughout the Americas.

India Approves Nepal's Request for 654 MW Electricity Import

The government of India has granted approval for Nepal to import approximately 654 MW of peak electricity through power exchanges. This import is restricted to non-solar hours and is effective from September. Nepal had sought these advance import approvals to address generation deficits, which were exacerbated by recent flash floods.

This approval coincides with unusually high domestic power demand in India, with peak demand exceeding 260 GW in September. Factors contributing to India's increased demand include sultry weather, irrigation needs during a dry monsoon, and reduced wind and hydroelectric generation due to the El Nino effect. While solar hours meet India's overall power demand, non-solar hours have strained coal and gas-based power plants.

The request for increased power flow to Nepal was processed within established frameworks, including trade through day-ahead and real-time market segments of Indian power exchanges. Traditionally, Nepal imports electricity from India during the lean winter months starting in October. Flash floods in Nepal on August 26 caused significant damage to power generation units, reducing domestic capacity by approximately 550 MW. Cross-border power flow from Nepal to India has also decreased by about 400 MW from previous peak export levels.