Juniper Commissions India’s First Merchant Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

Juniper Green Energy Ltd has commissioned 60 megawatt-hours (MWh) of its 100 MWh merchant battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Bikaner, Rajasthan, marking its first operational merchant storage asset, the company said on Wednesday.

The project has been commissioned through its subsidiary, Juniper Green Cosmic Pvt Ltd. The commissioned capacity has completed trial operations and received approval from the Northern Regional Load Despatch Centre, with commercial operations beginning on Dec. 24, 2025.

100 MWh Capacity Soon 

The remaining 40 MWh capacity is expected to be commissioned shortly. Once fully operational, the 100 MWh project will be among the largest operating battery energy storage systems in India, enabling merchant revenue streams such as peak power arbitrage, grid balancing services and participation in ancillary markets.

Separately, Juniper Green Energy said it has already installed 400 MWh of BESS capacity at Fatehgarh in Rajasthan, which is expected to be commissioned by the first quarter of 2026, further expanding its storage portfolio.

Critical To Energy Transition 

Battery energy storage systems are increasingly seen as critical to India’s energy transition, supporting grid stability, renewable energy integration and peak demand management. Juniper said it plans to deploy BESS capacity across all its solar projects connected to the inter-state transmission system, creating an integrated renewable-plus-storage platform.

“The commissioning of our first merchant BESS underscores Juniper Green Energy’s execution strength and strategic focus on emerging opportunities in energy storage,” said Ankush Malik, chief executive officer of Juniper Green Energy.

The company said it continues to expand its renewable and energy storage portfolio, supported by a growing development pipeline and execution capabilities.

What Is A Merchant BESS

A merchant battery energy storage system (merchant BESS) is a grid-connected battery project that operates without a long-term power purchase agreement and instead earns revenue by participating directly in electricity markets. Such systems buy and store electricity when prices are low and sell it back to the grid when prices are high, while also providing grid services such as frequency regulation, reserve support, and balancing.

Revenues are therefore market-driven and variable, depending on price volatility, demand–supply conditions, and ancillary service requirements, making merchant BESS higher risk than contracted storage projects but offering greater upside during periods of grid stress or high price spreads.