Expansion
Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Becomes India's First Utility to Reach 1,000 MWh Battery Storage
By News Desk ·
Key takeaways
- MSEDCL has reached 1,000 MWh of decentralised battery energy storage, the first power distribution utility in India to do so.
- The utility recently operationalised 500 MW of storage with a two-hour discharge duration, doubling its installed capacity.
- MSEDCL plans to add another 750 MW, equivalent to 1,500 MWh, by the end of December, with 4,000 MWh of projects in development.
Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd has become the first power distribution utility in India to reach 1,000 megawatt-hours of decentralised battery energy storage capacity, The Times of India reported. The utility recently operationalised 500 MW of storage with a two-hour discharge duration, taking its total installed storage capacity to 1,000 MWh.
How MSEDCL Built Its 1,000 MWh Storage Base
Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution, known as MSEDCL, is the state-owned distribution licensee for Maharashtra, serving 3.4 crore consumers across residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural segments. The storage capacity was developed to capture surplus solar power generated under the state government's Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana 2.0 and hold it for evening peak demand hours.
MSEDCL managing director Lokesh Chandra said the battery storage system proved particularly valuable during the recent surge in power demand triggered by dry weather and higher temperatures. "The achievement comes alongside the rapid expansion of solar generation under the Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana 2.0, through which nearly 7,000 MW of decentralised solar power projects have already been commissioned," he said. The projects primarily cater to daytime agricultural power requirements.
Battery Energy Storage Systems have been deployed at multiple locations across the state. MSEDCL operates decentralised battery storage installations at 50 locations, each with a capacity of 10 MW. Officials said the stored energy can be dispatched during evening hours, especially 6-9 pm, instead of purchasing expensive electricity from the open market, helping reduce costs and improve grid reliability.
MSEDCL's Storage Pipeline and Utility Scale
According to akta.pro company records, MSEDCL serves over 3.4 crore (34 million) consumers and reported revenue exceeding ₹1,26,069 crore for fiscal year 2025. The utility achieved a new peak demand of 27,230 MW on April 27, 2026, surpassing its previous 2025 record of 26,698 MW. Combined peak demand across all Maharashtra utilities reached 31,000 MW.
Solar and Regulatory Steps Before the Storage Milestone
In August 2026, the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission approved a proposal by MSEDCL to install 1 kWp rooftop solar systems for 2,11,206 low-income households in Maharashtra, SolarQuarter reported. Earlier that month, the commission approved tariffs for MSEDCL's procurement of 2,269 MW of solar power under the MSKVY 2.0 scheme, according to SolarQuarter. In August 2026, Deccan Herald reported that MSEDCL had developed a solar irrigation model with over 1.1 million off-grid solar agricultural pumps installed, and that the state plans to source 100% of agricultural irrigation electricity from solar by March 2027.
MSEDCL's December Storage Target
MSEDCL has announced plans to add another 750 MW of battery storage capacity, equivalent to 1,500 MWh, by the end of December. Projects with a cumulative capacity of 4,000 MWh are at various stages of development.