Kolkata Metro plans Battery Energy Storage System for Blue Line by the end of 2024

India’s first metro system is set to achieve another milestone this year, the Kolkata Metro has placed an order for Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which will be installed on the Blue Line. This innovative system will be the first of its kind in any Indian metro network. The BESS is designed to ensure that stranded trains can be hauled to safety during power outages, enhancing the reliability and safety of the metro service.

After conducting a pre-bid meeting with these companies, an order has been placed through an open bidding process to Delta Electronics Pvt. Ltd. o­n 04.05.2024 through an open bidding process to install four MW BESS with 6.4 MWh using Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery as an energy storage element.

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Adhering to the norms of the Make in India Policy of Govt. of India, this company, which is an Indian subsidiary of M/s Delta Inc. Taiwan has to manufacture the power converter system of the battery in India and LFP battery in Taiwan.

After visiting the site, this company submitted the layout plan o­n 07.06.2024 for approval of Metro Railway authorities. This new system has been designed in such a way that the electricity generated with it can be used to haul passenger-packed stranded rakes at 30 km/hr speed from mid-tunnel to the next station in case of any power failure or even National Grid Failure.

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This is indeed a huge advancement as passenger-packed trains won’t have to wait in underground tunnels or o­n viaducts for restoration of power supply in case of a disruption of power.

Thousands of passengers can be brought to safety with the help of this system. The Railway Board has also provided enough funds for the smooth execution of this eco-friendly project.

This new system, equipped with green batteries and having a lifespan of around 14 years, will require around 106 sq. metre space o­nly to install. It is going to reduce carbon footprint with better energy efficiency, long life, and occupy less space sans health hazards, fire hazards which are associated much more with acidic/alkaline batteries.

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