In a strategic shift toward clean energy integration, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), a key subsidiary of Coal India Ltd (CIL), has invited Expressions of Interest (EoIs) for setting up a 60 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Odisha. The initiative signals CIL’s expanding commitment to diversify beyond coal and support India’s rapidly evolving energy ecosystem.
The proposed BESS project will help MCL stabilize power supply across key mining areas, reduce dependence on conventional energy sources, and enhance operational efficiency in regions where electricity demand fluctuates due to mining intensity. Officials stated that the project is designed to complement renewable energy installations that CIL plans to develop in the region over the next few years.
Industry analysts view MCL’s move as a proactive step toward future-proofing the coal sector. With India’s growing emphasis on energy transition and grid modernization, large-scale storage solutions are becoming essential to support clean energy deployment, especially in industrial and mining-heavy states such as Odisha.
The 60 MWh system will also serve as a pilot model for similar BESS installations across other subsidiaries of Coal India. If successful, the initiative could accelerate the company’s shift toward hybrid energy operations by pairing solar plants with battery storage for round-the-clock power availability.
MCL officials noted that the EoI aims to attract leading global and domestic energy technology companies capable of delivering advanced, scalable storage systems. The project aligns with CIL’s broader targets of reducing carbon footprint, improving sustainability metrics, and exploring new energy business models.
As Coal India steps into the energy-storage space, the mining giant is steadily reshaping its role in India’s power landscape—transitioning from a coal-exclusive supplier to an integrated energy solutions provider.