Larsen & Toubro's (L&T) renewables business division has secured a contract to develop a grid-connected 116MW AC solar photovoltaic (PV) plant with a 241MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in the East Indian state of Bihar.
Dubbed the Kajra Solar Energy Project, the facility is located in Kajra, Lakhisarai district.
L&T did not disclose the exact value of the contract but indicated it to be in the range of Rs10bn ($110m) and Rs25bn.
The project, an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) order, is an extension of a previous phase. It will bring the total co-located storage capacity at the Lakhisarai renewable site to 495MWh, marking it as India's largest state utility-awarded project.
The initiative aims to stabilise Bihar's energy supply by storing surplus solar energy for later use.
The Kajra Solar Energy Project unfolds in two phases, the first involving 185MW of solar production with a 254MWh BESS, and this second phase entailing 116MW of solar capacity with a 241MWh BESS.
These phases will ensure uninterrupted power supply by supporting energy time-shifting, particularly during peak demand periods.
The four-hour BESS-integrated solar facility will be financed through an 80:20 model, with 80% from financial institutions and 20% from capital investment.
Spanning more than 1,232 acres, the site has already seen installations of over 200,000 solar panels.
Bihar's energy security stands to benefit significantly, as the deployment of an advanced BESS with liquid cooling technology promises increased safety and efficiency.
This initiative also aligns with India's push towards renewable energy storage systems and supports regional environmental campaigns such as the Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Abhiyan.
L&T is an Indian multinational company involved in various sectors, including EPC projects and services worldwide.
Its renewables business vertical had previously won an EPC contract for a 275MW solar PV project in Gujarat, India.
Separately, L&T’s minerals and metals division secured an EPC order from Hindustan Zinc for its Debari Smelter Complex in Rajasthan, also in India.
The contract ranges between Rs25bn and Rs50bn and includes designing and engineering a facility for high-grade zinc production.
