BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (BESS) INAUGURATED IN BLUE LINE
THIS SYSTEM IS TO BE USED AS A BACK-UP POWER TO HAUL METRO TRAINS FROM THE MID SECTION IN CASE OF SUDDEN POWER CUT OR GRID FAILURE
Kolkata, 25.02.2026:
Metro Railway, Kolkata, India’s first Metro, has achieved another feat by commissioning Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the Central Metro station of the Blue Line today, i.e., on 25.02.2026. This BESS, the first of its kind in Indian Railways and in the eastern part of our country, was commissioned in the presence of Shri S.S. Mishra, General Manager, and other senior officers of Metro Railway, the President, and other members of MRWWO.
This system comprises inverters and Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Batteries, and is capable of providing stored power in case of a power outage or grid failure. This 4 MW BESS, conceptualized as per the National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage, approved by the Union Cabinet in the year 2021, is powered by a 6.4 MWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery as an energy storage element.
This new system has been designed in such a way that the electricity stored by it can be used to haul rakes at 55 km/hr speed from the mid-tunnel to the next station, if stranded in case of any Grid Failure, besides providing power supply to the tunnel ventilation and environment control system at the underground stations. This system, also equipped with green batteries, has a lifespan of around 14 years and is very compact in design. It is also going to reduce carbon footprint with better energy efficiency than conventional Generators.
It will efficiently handle spikes in power demand and improve the power factor, which will reduce the energy bill.
