Project at a Glance
NTPC is set to develop what has been reported as India's first ceramic thermal storage-based solar project at Bhadla in Rajasthan. The project, rated at 320 kW, is designed to enable solar power generation during night hours by storing heat in ceramic-based materials. The development was reported by SolarQuarter on 2 November 2026 and by ET Government on 3 November 2026.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Project | Ceramic Thermal Storage-Based Solar Project |
| Promoter | NTPC |
| Location | Bhadla, Rajasthan |
| Capacity | 320 kW |
| Project Value | Not reported |
| Distinguishing Feature | Ceramic-based thermal storage enabling night-time solar generation |
Technology and Significance
Both outlets describe the Bhadla installation as India's first ceramic-based project to generate solar power at night. The ceramic thermal storage approach stores heat collected during daylight hours and uses it to generate electricity after sunset, addressing one of the central limitations of conventional photovoltaic solar installations. At 320 kW, the project is a pilot-scale initiative. No further technical detail, timeline, or sub-contractor information was available from the reporting.
NTPC's Broader Renewable Footprint
The Bhadla project adds to a growing portfolio of renewable developments that Projects India tracks for NTPC and its subsidiary NTPC Renewable Energy Limited. These include a solar project at Bhanipura, Rajasthan, currently under construction; a solar project at Dhule, Maharashtra, under approvals; and a solar project at Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, valued at Rs 1,338 crore and also under construction. NTPC Limited also has a thermal power expansion at Unchahar, Uttar Pradesh, valued at Rs 2,901 crore, and a Green Hydrogen and Ammonia plant at Pudimadaka, Visakhapatnam, valued at Rs 16,342.59 crore, reflecting the state-owned generator's wide capital deployment across energy types. Readers can view the full Power Projects sector overview for context on NTPC and other promoters active across India.
Rajasthan and the Wider Solar Pipeline
Bhadla is one of India's best-known solar zones, and the NTPC announcement adds a technology-differentiated project to Rajasthan's solar count. Projects India currently tracks 84 solar-based power projects in Rajasthan, placing it sixth among states by volume in this sub-sector. Maharashtra leads with 189 tracked projects, followed by Karnataka (188), Telangana (139), Andhra Pradesh (93), and Gujarat (86).
Across the full solar-based power project pipeline in India, Projects India tracks 1,316 live projects, with 24 added in the last 90 days. The stage breakdown illustrates where commercial opportunity currently sits: 643 projects are under approvals, 221 are under construction, 194 are in planning, 129 are completed, 47 are on hold, and 26 are at the early or announced stage. The large concentration in the approvals stage signals a substantial wave of projects that will move to procurement and construction in the near term.
What this means for suppliers and contractors
The Bhadla ceramic thermal storage project is at the announced stage and small in capacity, but its technology novelty makes it relevant to a specific set of suppliers. Firms with experience in high-temperature ceramic materials, industrial heat storage systems, or concentrated solar power components should monitor NTPC's procurement activity for this installation. Because no value has been reported, suppliers should not size their expectations on the 320 kW figure alone — pilot projects of this nature often carry engineering and development costs that exceed what the nameplate capacity suggests.
More broadly, the pipeline data points to Rajasthan as an active market despite sitting below the top five states by project count. With 84 tracked solar projects and a prominent promoter such as NTPC adding an innovation-focused pilot, the state remains a geography worth monitoring. Suppliers active in thermal energy storage, balance-of-plant works, or civil and electrical contracting for solar sites should note the 221 projects currently under construction nationally — the largest near-term revenue opportunity in the tracked pipeline — alongside the 643 projects under approvals that will generate tender activity over the coming months.
Contractors and equipment makers can track open tender opportunities across the power sector on the Projects India live tenders page, and browse the full project database to identify early-stage opportunities by geography, promoter, and stage.
Frequently asked questions
What is NTPC's ceramic thermal storage solar project at Bhadla?
NTPC is developing a 320 kW ceramic thermal storage-based solar project at Bhadla, Rajasthan, reported as India's first of its kind. The technology stores heat in ceramic materials during the day to generate electricity at night, extending solar generation beyond daylight hours.
Where is the NTPC ceramic solar project located?
The project is located at Bhadla in Rajasthan, one of India's established large-scale solar zones. It was reported by SolarQuarter on 2 November 2026 and by ET Government on 3 November 2026.
How many solar projects does Projects India track in Rajasthan?
Projects India currently tracks 84 solar-based power projects in Rajasthan. Nationally, the platform tracks 1,316 live solar projects, with 643 under approvals and 221 under construction as of the latest data.
