Energy Storage

Parity in the total cost of ownership already exists for electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers (with subsidy) vis-à-vis their internal combustion engine counterparts. Policy impetus, coupled with the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for batteries and auto components (exclusively covering EVs), is likely to further reduce costs and accelerate the transition to electric vehicles (EVs). The transition will also open up the market for new-age companies and innovators across the value chain.

India has seen substantial activity in the domestic battery storage and green hydrogen markets, from the entry of Reliance and Acme Solar in green hydrogen to gigawatt-scale battery storage tenders by NTPC and the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). There are more private ventures in the offing, indicating the government’s policy push is in the right direction.  

The EnerPack from Indian manufacturer Jakson consists of a hybrid inverter, lithium ferro phosphate batteries, and an intelligent energy management system that can smartly combine grid power, solar power, wind power, and even diesel generator power supply to maximize the use of renewable energy.

The draft guidelines and the draft tender document inviting bids for setting up standalone battery energy storage systems in India have been uploaded on the SECI site. The final tender document will be issued based on the comments and discussions with the prospective bidders on the draft guidelines and draft tender documents.

Cell manufacturers are expected to prioritize larger customers in the automotive industry over relatively small energy storage system integrators.

Magenta, in collaboration with State power discom BSES, will deploy innovative EV charging solutions in the discom’s service area in Delhi. It will undertake the installation, operations and maintenance of EV charging solutions under the ChargeGrid brand.

A power system modeling study, jointly carried out by Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT) and Wärtsilä, explores the feasibility of a net-zero-emissions power system in India by 2050. It shows that an all-renewables power system, when paired with flexible generation technologies (thermal balancing power plants and energy storage), can improve the affordability of electricity while ensuring the reliability of system operations.

The system has dimensions of 834×417×1,766 mm and weighs 205 kg including the design panel. It achieves an electrical efficiency of 56% and can be connected with a hot water storage unit.

The venture capital arm of British energy company bp has invested $13 million in BluSmart in a $25 million Series A funding round. The investment will help BluSmart bring its electric vehicles and charging stations to five major cities.

The Australian-Singaporean group behind a proposed 20 GW solar PV farm and 42 GWh battery energy storage project under development in Australia’s remote far north has hinted that other, similar-sized projects are already in the pipeline.