NTPC to Deploy 247Solar's Advanced Solar Thermal Tech in First Commercial Project

NTPC, India's biggest power producer, will deploy 247Solar's advanced solar thermal technology in its first commercial project. The announcement, reported by Renewable Energy Magazine on October 16, 2026, marks a step for the utility into a form of concentrating solar power that stores heat instead of electricity.

247Solar's design uses mirrors to focus sunlight onto a receiver, heating air to high temperatures. That heat can be stored in a solid medium and used later to drive a turbine. The company says its system can run around the clock, unlike conventional solar panels that need batteries or backup gas.

For NTPC, which operates more than 70 gigawatts of mostly coal-fired capacity, the project fits a broader push into renewables. The utility has set a target of 60 gigawatts of clean energy by 2032. Solar thermal, though more expensive than photovoltaic panels, offers something PV can't: dispatchable power after sunset.

Details on the plant's location, capacity, and timeline were not disclosed in the announcement. NTPC and 247Solar did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Solar thermal has struggled in India. The country's first large plant, a 50-megawatt project in Rajasthan, was plagued by delays and cost overruns. But interest is reviving as storage becomes a priority for grid operators. The Central Electricity Authority has flagged the need for flexible generation to balance growing solar and wind capacity.

247Solar, based in the United States, has been developing its modular system for over a decade. The company claims its units can be manufactured in factories and assembled on site, cutting costs. Its first commercial installation, a 400-kilowatt unit in China, began operating in 2021.

NTPC's move could signal a shift. If the project works, it may open the door for more solar thermal in India, where land is scarce and grid stability is a concern. But the technology still faces stiff competition from cheap solar panels paired with lithium-ion batteries, whose prices keep falling.

"This is a test case," said a renewable energy analyst who asked not to be named. "NTPC has the balance sheet to try something new. If it fails, others will watch and wait."

The project is expected to be commissioned in phases, though no date was given. NTPC has not said how much it will invest.