The Kerala government and Kerala State Electricity Board Limited (KSEB), an India-based state-owned electricity utility, are accelerating BESS development to store low-cost daytime solar power for use during evening and night-time demand periods. Minister Joseph said daytime power was available at one paise per unit, while electricity could not be obtained even at INR 10 per unit at night, and he appealed to consumers to limit electricity use during night hours.
The government plans to push KSEB to complete the BESS projects at Mylatti in Kasaragod and Sreekandapuram in Kannur, where work is progressing. It is also taking steps to fast-track battery storage facilities after a pilot energy storage project tested in Ernakulam proved successful.
The storage push follows load-shedding across Kerala after a sharp increase in night-time electricity demand during high temperatures. KSEB attributed the restrictions to the demand surge, high prices, and limited availability of electricity on the power exchange. Demand increased by 500 MW to 600 MW on Wednesday, leaving the utility to impose load-shedding across the state.
Total electricity consumption reached 90.45 million units, compared with KSEB's own generation of 21.02 million units. Hydroelectric reservoir storage stood at 28.62%, down from 60.15% during the corresponding period last year. The reduced water position limited the state's available hydroelectric resources while night-time electricity requirements were rising.
The proposed use of BESS would shift low-cost daytime solar generation into evening hours, when power availability is tighter and market prices are higher. The projects at Mylatti and Sreekandapuram remain in progress, while the Ernakulam pilot provides the tested storage reference cited by the government as it seeks faster implementation.