A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Andaman & Nicobar Administration, and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for NTPC to set up 50 MW of solar projects with battery energy storage system at Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

An NTPC official said that these projects will be part of the 100 MW of solar projects that the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) had asked NTPC to develop in the Union Territory. The projects are expected to be commissioned by end of financial year 2017-18.

The power generated from these solar projects will contribute towards increased renewable energy deployment and greening of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. To date 322.5 MW of projects with battery energy storage system have been tendered in India.

NTPC is playing a major role in making Andaman & Nicobar energy-sufficient. As recently reported by Mercom, NTPC has tendered 43 MW of solar in Andaman & Nicobar, out of which a 17 MW project and an 8 MW project were tendered in the month of October.