Lead-acid battery technology continues to hold a firm position in India’s stationary energy storage market, after Bangalore-based PowerBuild Batteries, a subsidiary of Time Technoplast, secured certification from the Central Power Research Institute (CPRI) for its OPzS tubular batteries.
A prerequisite for utility and EPC tenders in India
The certification, granted under IS 1651:2013 standards, covers 2V OPzS batteries in the 100Ah to 300Ah range and follows around six months of testing and validation. CPRI approval is a prerequisite for participation in many utility and EPC tenders in India, effectively opening access to a significant share of the country’s power infrastructure market.
PowerBuild said the certification positions it to supply batteries for applications including power generation, transmission and distribution, as well as substations and oil and gas installations. OPzS batteries are widely used in these sectors due to their long service life, reliability and suitability for stationary backup systems.
The company also highlighted demand across adjacent sectors such as telecoms, railways and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, where tubular lead-acid batteries remain a proven and cost-effective solution.
Industry estimates put the addressable market for such applications in India at around ₹3,000–4,000 crore, underlining the commercial importance of certification. Unlike lithium-ion technologies, which are gaining traction in grid-scale and mobility applications, OPzS batteries continue to be favoured in critical infrastructure where robustness, ease of maintenance and established performance standards are prioritised.
PowerBuild added that the newly certified products are manufactured using tubular plate technology and transparent SAN containers, enabling easier inspection and improved durability in demanding operating environments.
Photo: Vidhana Soudha – the seat of the Karnataka state legislature in Bangalore, India – by Zablanca Clicks on Unsplash
