State-run power giant NTPC has issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) inviting bids for thermal power plants with 150-250 MW capacity to balance the grid. According to the company's latest statement, this initiative aims to identify technology providers and EPC partners for developing highly flexible thermal generation solutions that can support grid reliability and stability as renewable energy penetration rises. The move comes as India's rapid expansion of renewable capacity is transforming the power sector and advancing the country's clean energy ambitions, while the growing share of renewable generation is increasing the need for flexible power sources that can quickly respond to changing grid conditions.
The EOI seeks technology solutions for sub-critical thermal units in the 150-250 MW range that can operate in two shifts and run at a minimum technical load of 25%, significantly lower than the current minimum operating level of 55% across NTPC's thermal fleet. This initiative marks a significant push towards more flexible thermal generation as India's renewable energy capacity expansion places tremendous pressure on the grid. The Consultative Committee on Power met on Tuesday to discuss transmission bottlenecks as expanding power demand amidst massive integration of renewable energy is exerting 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.
As of June 3, 2026, India's total installed capacity stands at around 266 GW, with approximately 44.74 GW under maintenance. Of this maintenance capacity, roughly 6 GW is under planned maintenance, 28 GW under forced maintenance, and 10 GW under maintenance due to other reasons. NTPC's entire thermal fleet is already operating at a technical minimum load of 55% during low demand periods, with the company's operational experience indicating that thermal plants continue to play a critical role in balancing the grid, particularly due to the limited availability of hydropower, gas-based generation and utility-scale battery storage capacity.
All of NTPC's thermal stations are already participating in ancillary services including Automatic Generation Control (AGC), Primary Frequency Response (PFR), Tertiary Reserve Ancillary Services (TRAS), Security-Constrained Economic Dispatch (SCED) and Security-Constrained Unit Commitment (SCUC). The company's existing thermal fleet is already operating at a technical minimum load of 55% during low demand periods, with thermal plants contributing to grid flexibility and reliability, particularly during solar hours. India's thermal capacity includes 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, while the country has 154 GW of solar power, 56 GW of wind, 10 GW of biomass, 5 GW of small hydro, 51.6 GW of large hydro and 8.8 GW of nuclear power capacity.
The proposed sub-critical technologies are widely recognized as more polluting than their high-performing counterparts, but NTPC is specifically targeting new-generation sub-critical units that could provide grid stability benefits. The company's operational experience indicates that their ability to operate efficiently at lower loads and adapt to frequent cycling makes them a potential enabler of higher renewable energy integration in the future. As reported by NDTV, state-of-the-art ultra-supercritical plants experience faster deterioration when operating below full capacity, creating operational challenges for many power operators. This has resulted in the curtailment of solar power during periods of low demand, highlighting the need for more flexible thermal generation options.
