In a significant development, state-run NTPC has floated bids for supply for electricity from thermal power plants with 150-250 megawatt (MW) capacity to balance the grid.
“India’s rapid expansion of renewable capacity is transforming the power sector and advancing the country’s clean energy ambitions. However, the growing share of renewable generation is also increasing the need for flexible power sources that can quickly respond to changing grid conditions,” India’s largest power generator said.
With limited hydro, gas-based generation, and large-scale energy storage systems, thermal power plants continue to play a critical role in providing grid-balancing support, it added.
On a pan-India basis, a total of around 266 GW capacity is online as on June 3, 2026. Besides, about 44.74 GW is under maintenance, of which roughly 6 GW is under planned maintenance, 28 GW under forced maintenance, and 10 GW under maintenance due to other reasons.
Greater Flexibility
“NTPC’s entire thermal fleet is already operating at a technical minimum load of 55 per cent during low demand periods, and all its stations are participating in ancillary services such as AGC, PFR, TRAS, SCED, and SCUC, to accommodate renewables particularly during solar hours and thereby contributing to grid flexibility and reliability,” the Maharatna company said.
The NTPC Group’s total coal-fired capacity of 67.36 GW. It also has 6.5 GW of Gas/ Liquid Fuel-based thermal capacity.
“Our operational experience suggests that sub-critical thermal units may offer greater flexibility than supercritical and ultra-supercritical technologies for certain grid-balancing requirements because of less parameter swings and hence low fatigue,” NTPC said.
Their ability to operate efficiently at lower loads and adapt to frequent cycling makes them a potential enabler for higher renewable energy integration in the future, it emphasised.
To explore such solutions, NTPC has invited an Expression of Interest for sub-critical thermal power units in the 150-250 MW range capable of two-shift operation and operation at a minimum technical load of 25 per cent.
“Through this initiative, NTPC aims to identify technology providers and EPC partners for developing highly flexible thermal generation solutions, reinforcing its commitment to grid reliability, stability and India’s evolving energy transition needs,” the power generation behemoth said.
Renewable Energy Integration
NTPC’s move comes as the Consultative Committee on Power met on Tuesday to discuss transmission bottlenecks as an expanding power demand amidst massive integration of renewable energy (RE) is exerting tremendous pressure on the grid. The panel also discussed various measures for ensuring stability of the Indian grid, which is experiencing large penetration of inverter-based generation resources and bulk loads.
These developments are taking place amidst surging RE capacity additions with slower deployment of transmission infrastructure is leading to loss of RE. For instance, India lost 34 GWh of clean generation, equivalent to the daily power use of about 5 million urban middle-class households, on March 30, 2026 (as per Ember).
India in terms of installed thermal capacity has 222 GW of coal-fired power plants, 6.6 GW of lignite-fired units and 20 GW of gas-based capacity as of April 2026.
The world’s second largest RE player also has 154 GW of solar power, 56 GW (wind), 10 GW (biomass), 5 GW (small hydro), 51.6 GW (large hydro) and 8.8 GW of nuclear power capacity.
Of the country’s total installed capacity of a little over 537 gigawatt (GW), around 310.77 GW is being monitored.