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Kolkata Metro Commissions India’s First Rail Microgrid Battery Backup

The trial 6.4 MWh installation begins service on the Blue Line to bolster resilience during grid failures.

Overview

  • Kolkata Metro has activated a 4 MW Battery Energy Storage System at Central station to power ventilation and move trains during major outages.
  • The system can haul passenger-loaded rakes at up to 55 km/h from mid-tunnel to the next station and support traction across the north–south corridor.
  • The installation uses Lithium Iron Phosphate ACC batteries with 88 racks and integrated power-conversion units tied into a 33 kV ring main.
  • Officials say the project cost about ₹20 crore, carries an estimated 14-year lifespan, and was designed and supplied by Delta Electronics India with some imported components.
  • The rollout is a pilot under the national ACC programme with a sanctioned capacity of around 16 MWh, with plans for expansion, solar integration, and peak-demand cost management.