Indigenous Iron-Air Battery to Be Piloted at NTPC Simhadri.

Indigenous Iron-Air Battery to Be Piloted at NTPC Simhadri

Deep-tech startup Meine Electric will pilot its indigenous iron-air battery technology at NTPC’s Simhadri Thermal Power Station to assess its potential for long-duration energy storage. The project will be implemented by Atal Incubation Centre–Anna University, with Meine Electric serving as the technology partner. The utility-scale pilot will evaluate the battery’s technical performance, reliability and operational stability under real-world conditions. The system is designed for a six-hour charging cycle followed by up to 18 hours of discharge, according to the company. The pilot will generate valuable operational data on applications such as renewable energy integration, grid flexibility and 24x7 clean power. The technology has also undergone independent testing covering electrochemical performance, capacity retention and stability. The initiative comes as India expands renewable energy capacity and requires cost-effective storage solutions to manage generation variability. Results from the pilot could support further development and future commercial-scale deployment of indigenous long-duration energy storage technology.