Kolkata-based infrastructure development company SPML Infra has secured a ₹11.28 billion (~$118.44 million) contract from NTPC to develop a 250 MW/1,000 MWh battery energy storage system at the Barauni thermal power station in Bihar.

The project will be executed over 18 months and followed by 15 years of operations and maintenance.

According to the company, the scope of work includes design, engineering, supply, civil works, erection, and commissioning of the storage system.

The tender for this project was floated in December last year.

The project will comprise 5 MWh direct-current battery containers equipped with battery and thermal management systems, along with 33 kV panel boards, 220 kV direct-current and alternating-current cables, a 220 kV switchyard, and associated infrastructure.

The company described it as its first large-scale battery energy storage project.

The company said the storage system will integrate with the existing thermal power infrastructure at the Barauni facility to support peak load management, grid stability, and the integration of renewable energy.

Abhinandan Sethi, Managing Director at SPML Infra, said, “The company plans to expand its energy storage business in collaboration with Energy Vault, a U.S.-listed energy storage company.”

As part of the agreement, Energy Vault will transfer its B-VAULT battery energy storage system technology and VaultOS energy management system software to SPML, enabling localized production and faster adoption of clean energy infrastructure in India.

SPML Infra said the project forms part of its broader strategy to expand into energy storage infrastructure. The company plans to deploy 30-40 GWh of battery storage projects over the next 10 years.

India added nearly 547 MWh of battery energy storage capacity in 2025, a 26% year-over-year increase from over 433 MWh. India’s cumulative installed battery energy storage capacity reached almost 1,082 MWh as of December 2025.

In March this year, G R Infraprojects, Enviro Infra Engineers, Solarworld Energy Solutions, NTPC GE Power Services, Pace Digitek, and Enrich Energy were declared winners of NTPC’s auction to set up 2,334 MWh of battery energy storage systems at its thermal power stations across Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.