ACME Solar Holdings has commissioned 66.68 MW of solar capacity and 300 MWh of battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity in Bikaner, Rajasthan, expanding its operational renewable generation and storage portfolio as the company develops hybrid and firm, dispatchable renewable energy assets.
The commissioning covers two separate Phase-I developments at Kelan village. One is the initial solar component of ACME Solar’s first hybrid renewable energy project, while the other is the storage component of a firm and dispatchable renewable energy (FDRE) project.
The additions take ACME Solar’s operational renewable energy generation capacity to approximately 3,057 MW and its operational BESS portfolio to 4.16 GWh, according to the company.
66.68 MW solar phase forms part of hybrid project
The solar capacity has been commissioned through ACME Renewtech Private Limited and represents the first phase of a larger 300 MW solar project at Kelan village in Bikaner.
The solar asset is part of ACME Solar’s first hybrid renewable energy development, which is planned to combine 300 MW of solar with 100 MW of wind capacity.
The project has a power purchase agreement with NTPC, while Power Finance Corporation is providing long-term project financing.
The newly commissioned 66.68 MW represents more than one-fifth of the project’s planned solar capacity. ACME Solar expects the entire 300 MW solar component to be commissioned by the end of the third quarter of FY27, according to the company.
BESS phase advances Rajasthan FDRE project
At the same location, ACME Greentech Seventh Private Limited has commissioned Phase-I of the BESS component of its FDRE project.
The commissioned storage system comprises 53.63 MW / 300 MWh, forming part of a larger project planned at 300 MW / 1,581 MWh.
The storage installation is being developed as part of ACME Solar’s FDRE portfolio, designed around the combination of renewable generation and energy storage rather than relying solely on variable renewable generation.
The BESS component is the portion currently commissioned, while the associated renewable energy generation component remains under development. The company has set September 16, 2026, as the commercial operation date for the commissioned BESS phase.
The FDRE project has a power purchase agreement with SJVN, while REC is associated with its long-term project financing, according to current reports.
Storage becomes a larger part of renewable project development
The Bikaner commissioning highlights the growing role of battery storage alongside large-scale renewable generation in India.
Solar projects produce electricity according to available sunlight, creating a timing gap between generation and periods of higher electricity demand. BESS can help shift electricity availability across different periods, allowing renewable projects to be structured around more defined delivery requirements.
For developers, the combination of generation and storage also creates a pathway towards firm and dispatchable renewable power contracts. ACME Solar’s latest commissioning therefore adds both conventional solar generation capacity and storage capacity to its operating portfolio.
The company’s operational BESS capacity has now crossed the 4 GWh mark, reaching 4.16 GWh after the latest commissioning.
ACME Solar expands beyond standalone renewable generation
The latest projects reflect a broader shift in utility-scale renewable development towards hybrid systems and dispatchable supply.
ACME Solar’s Bikaner developments combine solar generation, planned wind capacity and battery storage across separate project structures. This approach allows renewable generation and storage assets to address different aspects of power-system requirements.
The immediate milestone is the commissioning of the initial solar and storage phases. Further capacity will depend on the development and commissioning of the remaining components of the respective projects.
Bioenergy Business Analysis
The Bikaner developments illustrate how renewable developers are increasingly moving from standalone solar capacity towards projects that incorporate storage and multiple generation technologies. For the power sector, the significance lies not simply in additional megawatts of solar capacity but in the growing deployment of storage alongside renewable generation.
The 300 MWh BESS commissioning also demonstrates the importance of separating power capacity from energy capacity when assessing storage projects. The 53.63 MW figure describes the storage system’s power capacity, while 300 MWh represents the amount of energy it can store. As more Indian renewable projects adopt BESS and FDRE structures, these distinctions will become increasingly important for evaluating project scale and delivery capability.
Read also: Malaysia’s 250MW FiT quota set to drive RM3 billion renewable energy investment
