'India's Energy Storage Landscape’ Report released by Mercom India Research | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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'India's Energy Storage Landscape’ Report released by Mercom India Research

Posted 16 Jul 2024

2 min read

Key findings (as of March 2024)

  • India’s cumulative installed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity is 219.1 Megawatt-hours (MWh).
  • Chhattisgarh (Highest BESS capacity) accounts for 54.8% of cumulative installed capacity.
  • Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, combined with BESS, accounted for 90.6% of total installed capacity.

About BESS

  • It refers to an electrochemical device which enables renewable energy like solar energy, wind energy to be stored and released when needed.
  • Types of batteries used in BESS: Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, Lead-acid batteries, Sodium-sulfur batteries etc.

Significance of BESS

  • Minimizes greenhouse gas emissions: Thus aid in achieving Panchamrit target of net zero emission by 2070.
  • Reduce Energy Costs: Stored energy can be used during peak hours, when energy prices are highest.
  • Reduce Grid Dependency and Improves Grid Stability: By sourcing and storing power, and by balancing supply and demand. 

Concerns with BESS

  • Increased need for maintenance and monitoring.
  • Initial cost can be high, which may deter users from investing in these systems.
  • Extraction of raw materials like lithium is energy intensive, and can lead to water pollution, land degradation etc.

Initiatives taken to promote BESS

  • Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme for development of 4,000 MWh of BESS projects by 2030-31.
  • Waiver of Inter-State Transmission Charges on BESS Projects commissioned up to June 2025.
  • Production Linked Incentive Scheme for National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage.
  • National Framework for Promoting Energy Storage Systems by Ministry of Power.
  • Tags :
  • Battery Energy Storage System
  • Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme
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