Long wait ends! 'BESS' ready in Mulleria

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The first unit of the BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) project, implemented to address the state's power crisis, is complete. Located at Mulleria in Kasaragod, this facility is capable of storing 15 MW of electricity and supplying it for up to four hours during peak evening demand.

Once officials from the Electrical Inspectorate complete their inspection and grant approval, the storage process will commence with a trial run of power transmission. The BESS facility has been set up on a one-acre plot adjacent to the KSEB substation. The construction cost is approximately Rs 70 crore and was executed by Opera Energy.

Amidst significant strides in solar power generation, Kerala faces a serious challenge due to the lack of adequate storage systems for night-time needs. It was to address this that a decision was made to install Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) at six locations.

The projects set to materialise are located at Mylatti (125 MW), Sreekandapuram (40 MW), Areekode (30 MW), Pothencode (40 MW), and Brahmapuram (250 MW). While the batteries for the Mylatti site are yet to arrive, other construction work there is over; construction at the other locations is currently in various stages of progress. Once all six BESS projects become operational, it will be possible to supply 500 MW of electricity for up to four hours during peak demand periods. Minister Sunny Joseph visited the project sites in person to assess the progress of the work.