NTPC Invites Global EOI for Compressed Air and Liquid Air Energy Storage (LDES)
NEW DELHI – NTPC Limited has issued a global Expression of Interest (EOI) for the development of a pilot or utility-scale project focused on Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) and Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES). This initiative is part of NTPC's broader strategy to integrate Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) systems with a discharge duration of 8 hours or more, essential for stabilizing India's renewable-heavy power grid.
The EOI (No. NTPC/PE/ET&PR/EOI-06/2025-26) aims to evaluate market readiness, techno-commercial viability, and performance under Indian grid conditions.
Key Timelines and Submission Details
Interested technology providers, developers, and system integrators must adhere to the following schedule:
Stakeholder Roles and Responsibilities
The project model requires a collaborative effort between NTPC and the selected applicant:
- Land Provision: Land will be provided on a lease basis for the installation and commissioning of the storage system.
- Operational Scope: The applicant will be responsible for the Installation, Commissioning, Operation, and Maintenance (O&M) of the complete plant based on the finalized implementation model.
- Technology Scope: Includes standard Compressed Air, Liquified Air, and other advanced forms of air-based storage (e.g., using liquid pistons for compression).
Strategic Rationale: Beyond Lithium-Ion
NTPC's move toward air-based LDES signals a shift away from critical-mineral-dependent technologies like Lithium-Ion. These mechanical storage solutions offer several advantages:
- Longevity: Expected operational life of 25–30 years without significant performance degradation.
- Scalability: Inherently suited for GWh-scale storage, unlike battery clusters.
- Geography Agnostic: Unlike Pumped Hydro (PHES), these systems do not require specific mountainous terrain and can be co-located with existing thermal or solar plants.
This EOI follows NTPC's ongoing work on a 160 MWh CO2-based energy storage pilot at Kudgi, Karnataka, further diversifying its portfolio of non-fossil fuel energy solutions.