Tata Power Renewable Energy and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation have joined forces to develop large-scale battery storage, marking a decisive step by India’s biggest oil producer into clean energy.
The agreement was signed at India Energy Week in February, as ONGC faces growing pressure to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Chairman Arun Kumar Singh said energy storage was vital to stabilise the grid as more solar and wind capacity comes online. ONGC has set a goal of 10GW of renewable power by 2030 and pledged net zero emissions by 2038.
Tata Power adds operational know-how. It runs India’s largest solar-battery plant, a 100MW facility with 120MWh of storage in Chhattisgarh. Chief executive Deepesh Nanda said the partnership would scale solutions across utilities, industrial consumers and electric vehicle charging.
Battery systems are viewed as the missing link in India’s renewable buildout. Solar and wind plants generate intermittently, while the grid needs consistent supply. Storage projects can bank surplus electricity and release it when demand peaks.
ONGC’s involvement shows how traditional energy companies are deploying cash from hydrocarbons to fund the transition. Its industrial network may also help Tata Power reach new customers. The partnership will target microgrids, hybrid projects and grid-balancing services, with joint bids planned for public and private contracts.
Analysts expect more alliances of this kind as India races to 500GW of clean energy capacity by 2030.