Delhi Power Minister Shri Ashish Sood inaugurates India’s first commercially approved standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

New Delhi: Delhi’s Power Minister Shri Ashish Sood today inaugurated India’s first commercially approved and South Asia’s largest 20 MW/40 MWh standalone utility-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), developed by BSES Rajdhani Power Limited at the 33 kV Kilokri Substation in New Delhi. Member of Parliament Shri Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, along with representatives from power companies, were also present on the occasion.
Shri Sood termed the project as a historic milestone in the energy sector, both for Delhi and the country. He noted that this system, built in record time under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta, sets a new benchmark in regulatory and technological innovation across India. Developed with support from IndiGrid, GEAPP, and TERI, this is South Asia’s largest standalone battery inverter-type power setup — based on advanced technology. Through this initiative, the government aims to ensure uninterrupted power supply for Delhi’s citizens. This cutting-edge model will be widely adopted to eliminate power outages across the capital.
The Power Minister further said that the government is committed to deploying this new technology in Delhi and will ensure the required investment for the same. Entrepreneurs keen to work in the solar energy sector will also be supported with necessary facilities to help ensure continuous and sustainable power supply. The project will not only aid clean energy storage and green energy promotion but also marks the beginning of a new era of innovation.
Shri Sood emphasized that implementing this 20 MW storage system will reduce the strain on Delhi’s power infrastructure. The government will scale up the model further, particularly in unauthorized colonies and areas with limited land availability or no existing grid.

He stated that under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta, the Delhi government’s top priority is to overhaul the neglected and outdated power infrastructure of the last ten years. The aim is to rapidly adopt new technologies to ensure smooth and round-the-clock electricity supply for the people of Delhi.
He added that the inauguration of this infrastructure marks not just the creation of a building or facility but a new vision and direction for the capital. Linking Delhi’s Solar Policy with the Prime Minister’s ‘Surya Ghar Yojana’, the minister highlighted that if a household installs a 3 kW solar panel, it will be eligible for a ₹78,000 subsidy from the central government and an additional ₹30,000 top-up subsidy from the Delhi government — totaling ₹1,08,000 in support. Additionally, low-interest loans at 5% will be provided for the remaining cost. Notably, instead of collecting payments, the power department will credit users monthly with the savings generated from solar electricity. This is the kind of forward-thinking that is shaping Delhi’s new future.

Shri Sood criticized the previous government, stating that in the past ten years, no concrete steps were taken to strengthen the city’s power infrastructure. Major companies like DTL (Delhi Transco Limited) were neglected and pushed to the brink of collapse. While superficial services like “lift maintenance” were undertaken, critical investments and upgrades were ignored. He posed a rhetorical question — What should the capital of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) look like? A developed capital for a developed nation must integrate innovation and modern technology in the energy sector, storing solar energy during the day and supplying uninterrupted electricity to a million residents at night.

He further said that for the past ten years, there were neither significant procurements nor any impactful decisions made in the power sector to improve citizens’ lives. There was no real effort — only grand rhetoric. Today, those who used to make tall claims should witness the efforts of the current administration under CM Rekha Gupta. However, they are self-proclaimed unemployed leaders who have nothing constructive left to offer. The future is clear — we are working with full commitment. This project was initiated when Shri Piyush Goyal was the Union Power Minister, and had those efforts not been made, Delhi would still be in the dark today. Reforms — whether at the Centre or in the State — are progressing under the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.