TKIL, HOPPECKE Partner to Power Rail Battery Systems in India

• TKIL and HOPPECKE will co-develop battery systems for India’s railways.
• India’s growing metro and electric locomotive demand boosts need for energy storage.
• The partnership supports TKIL’s sustainability push in Battery and Energy Storage.

TKIL Industries (formerly Thyssenkrupp Industries India) has partnered strategically with Germany's HOPPECKE Batterien GmbH & Co to set up advanced battery systems for the Indian railway sector. These companies will jointly work towards sustainable energy storage solutions for metro systems, regional trains, and electric locomotives, with the first collaboration kicking off in 2025.

India continues to have a rapidly evolving rail network, wherein metro cities are expected to multiply from 23 in FY25 to 31 by FY30. Further, projections suggest electric locomotive capacity doubling by 2030, thus generating a demand for more than 20,000 locomotives. With around 900 kilometers of metro projects underway and backed by INR 600 crores in investments, it all underlines the urgency of having a strong battery ecosystem for the rail sector.

With this partnership, TKIL will undertake the engineering, manufacturing, and execution of projects, whereas HOPPECKE will be the provider of knowledge regarding industrial energy storage. Plans are afoot to set up localized service infrastructure as well, facilitating deployment across the country.

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"This partnership with HOPPECKE represents a significant step in supporting India’s transition to sustainable rail transport. TKIL Industries brings a legacy of delivering complex infrastructure projects across India, while HOPPECKE contributes deep technological expertise in energy storage. Together, we aim to accelerate the electrification of India’s railways and advance the goal of a sustainable future", stated Vivek Bhatia, Managing Director & CEO of TKIL Industries.

TKIL Industries is now building upon the sustainability theme, putting Battery and Energy Storage (BES) alongside Green Hydrogen and Compressed Biogas as avenues it supports for India's net-zero aspirations.

"India is an essential growth market for sustainable mobility. This collaboration with TKIL Industries marks an important milestone in our global strategy and strengthens our presence in the rail battery segment by introducing advanced and reliable energy storage systems tailored for Indian conditions", added Dr Marc Zoellner, CEO of HOPPECKE Batterien GmbH & Co.

By representing TKIL Industries, Sanjay Jain mentioned, "This alliance signifies a forward-looking approach to energy storage within rail transport. Our aim is to introduce advanced battery systems that are efficient, reliable, and aligned with the sustainability goals of India’s railway infrastructure".