CSPGCL to Deploy Short-Duration Storage and Floating Solar in 24-Month Roadmap

CSPGCL to Deploy Short-Duration Storage and Floating Solar in 24-Month Roadmap

April 24, 2026

Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Company Ltd (CSPGCL) has unveiled an ambitious 24-month roadmap to transform the coal-rich state into a multi-source energy hub. In an exclusive interaction, Managing Director Sanjiv K. Katiyar announced plans to install 1,500 MWh of battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity by 2028. The state has already floated a tender for the first 500 MWh and is finalizing project reports for another 500 MWh. This short-duration storage push is designed to bridge the gap during evening peak hours, ensuring grid stability as more intermittent solar power comes online.

Given the state’s significant land constraints, Chhattisgarh is pivoting toward floating solar, identifying 32 reservoirs with a combined potential of 2,000 MW. While thermal power remains the “base load” backbone for the state’s heavy industries and agriculture, CSPGCL is modernizing its aging assets—such as the 1980s-era units at Korba West—rather than decommissioning them. The state is also moving toward high-efficiency supercritical units, with a 1,320 MW project currently under construction and another 800 MW project at Marwa in the pipeline.

Looking further ahead, Katiyar highlighted long-duration storage and nuclear energy as the next frontiers. Chhattisgarh has identified a massive 18 GW potential for Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) and has already signed MoUs for 13 GW. Additionally, the state is exploring Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) for nuclear power, which offer faster deployment and require less space. By integrating these diverse technologies—from green hydrogen and carbon capture to advanced nuclear—Chhattisgarh aims to achieve a 50% renewable energy mix by 2047, successfully balancing its fossil fuel legacy with a net-zero future.