Distributed Storage

Oriana Power is expanding its focus beyond battery energy storage to compact pumped-storage solutions—a new generation of systems that the company believes could redefine the future of commercial and industrial (C&I) energy management.

Vikram Solar has appointed Arun Mittal—formerly managing director and CEO (India) at Lohum Cleantech—as chief executive officer of its energy-storage solutions arm, VSL Powerhive.

Recyclability has to be considered a core engineering constraint by the battery industry. Adhesives and composites use could be reduced along with designing packs with cell visibility and enabling cell level separation should be a thing of the future. Standardization, which has been avoided for competitiveness for now, must be implemented since that will actually reduce costs across the value chain in the long term.

A report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) notes that while it is still uncertain whether sodium-ion batteries will become a disruptive alternative to lithium-ion technology, they could offer significant cost-saving opportunities in applications such as electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage.

EWE says construction has started on its 320 MW hydrogen plant in Germany as it seeks regulatory reforms, while Japan Suiso Energy and Kawasaki Heavy Industries have broken ground on a commercial-scale liquefied hydrogen terminal set to begin operations in 2030.

NTPC has developed a standalone solar microgrid system that uses hydrogen as the storage medium to deliver 200 kW of round-the-clock power year-round. Designed to replace diesel gensets at off-grid Army locations, the system provides a reliable and sustainable power supply even in harsh winter conditions, where temperatures drop to -40°C at an altitude of 4,500 meters. 

As renewable capacity rises, the question is no longer whether India can generate green power. The real challenge is whether the grid can absorb it smoothly and deliver it reliably when people actually need it. This is where battery energy storage systems (BESS) are increasingly seen not as a luxury but as a core part of grid planning.

Around 92% of the required investments—about $3.79 trillion—would flow into the energy transition, spanning renewable energy, storage, clean mobility, and green hydrogen.

Scientists in Ghana have developed a device that combines a conventional solar PV-powered steam cooker with sand-based thermal energy storage. The system can achieve a thermal efficiency of 38.9% and has a payback period of 4.5 years.

Lineage Power will supply battery energy storage systems to Larsen & Toubro for its project with Bihar State Power Generation Co. Ltd in Kajra.