SECI and Andhra Pradesh finalise 1200 MWh battery energy storage system, 50 MW hybrid project – Tribune India

Report on Renewable Energy Infrastructure Development in Andhra Pradesh

Executive Summary

A strategic partnership has been formalized between the Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) and the Government of Andhra Pradesh to advance India’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The collaboration, marked by the exchange of Government Orders (GOs), initiates the development of two significant clean energy projects. These initiatives are pivotal for enhancing the state’s renewable energy capacity and directly contribute to achieving national and global sustainability targets, particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Project Overview and Implementation

The agreement was finalized during the Andhra Pradesh Partnership Summit 2025. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is overseeing the development of these projects, which are central to India’s green energy transition.

1. 1200 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS): To be established in Nandyal, this project is designed to enhance grid stability and ensure a reliable supply of renewable energy.
2. 50 MW Hybrid Solar Project: This project will further increase the share of renewable energy in the state’s power generation mix.

Both projects will be executed under the CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) model, with SECI managing the complete investment, underscoring a strong public sector commitment to sustainable infrastructure.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

These projects represent a significant leap forward in aligning regional development with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The primary contributions include:

• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): The initiatives directly support Target 7.2 by substantially increasing the share of renewable energy in the national energy mix. The BESS project is critical for ensuring the reliability and accessibility of clean energy, a key component of Target 7.1.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): The development of a large-scale BESS and a hybrid solar plant constitutes an upgrade to critical infrastructure, making it more sustainable and resilient. This fosters innovation in energy storage and management.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): By promoting clean energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, these projects are a direct measure to combat climate change and its impacts, strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The collaboration between SECI, a central public sector undertaking, and the state government of Andhra Pradesh exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership essential for achieving the SDGs.

Conclusion

The formalization of these projects marks a milestone in strengthening Andhra Pradesh’s renewable energy ecosystem. The partnership between SECI and the state government is a clear indicator of India’s accelerated efforts to build a resilient, storage-enabled green grid. These developments are instrumental in the nation’s transition towards a sustainable energy future and the fulfillment of its international climate and development commitments.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article directly addresses this by detailing the development of a “50 MW Hybrid Solar Project,” which increases the capacity and share of renewable energy in the region’s energy infrastructure.
   • Target 7.b: By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services. The development of a “1200 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)” is a significant expansion of infrastructure designed to support and stabilize the supply of renewable energy, representing an upgrade in energy technology.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies. The article describes the creation of new, clean energy infrastructure (“BESS and Hybrid Solar projects”) that contributes to a “storage-enabled green grid,” which is a clear example of upgrading infrastructure with sustainable and clean technology.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.b: By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters. The projects aim to create a “more resilient energy future” and a “resilient, storage-enabled green grid.” This enhances the energy resilience of the region, which is a key component of sustainable communities and their ability to adapt to climate change.

4. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The projects are driven by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and implemented by the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a central public sector undertaking. This demonstrates the integration of climate action (promoting renewable energy) into national-level policy and planning, as stated in the article: “accelerate India’s transition towards a greener… energy future.”

5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article highlights a multi-stakeholder partnership involving SECI (a central government entity), the Government of Andhra Pradesh (a state government), and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), which is an industry association. The “Andhra Pradesh Partnership Summit 2025” where the exchange took place exemplifies this collaborative approach.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)

   • Installed capacity of renewable energy: The article specifies the “50 MW Hybrid Solar Project” as a direct measure of new renewable energy capacity being added.
   • Energy storage capacity: The “1200 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)” is a specific, quantifiable indicator of the infrastructure being built to support and stabilize the clean energy supply.

2. Indicators for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)

   • Investment in clean technology infrastructure: The article states that the projects will be developed under “CAPEX Mode, with SECI undertaking complete investment responsibilities,” implying that the total capital expenditure on these clean energy projects is a key indicator of progress.

3. Indicators for SDG 13 (Climate Action)

   • Implementation of national policies: The formal “exchange of Government Orders (GOs)” and the designation of SECI as the “implementing agency” by the Ministry of Power are tangible indicators that national strategies for a “greener… energy future” are being actively executed.

4. Indicators for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

   • Formation of multi-stakeholder partnerships: The collaboration between the central government (SECI, MNRE), the state government (Andhra Pradesh), and an industry association (CII) at the “Andhra Pradesh Partnership Summit” serves as a direct indicator of a public-public-civil society partnership being formed to achieve sustainable development goals.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: tribuneindia.com