Utility Scale Storage

NTPC Ltd has declared the commercial operation of 100 MW out of the total 176 MW solar PV project in Ramagundam, Telangana. In a separate development, ACME Solar has commissioned a 33.333 MW/160.480 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) project at Badi Sid village in Rajasthan.

While a significant share of state-run energy firms’ current fossil fuel capital expenditure is tied to ongoing projects, new and incremental investments can be progressively rebalanced toward clean energy, says Deepak Sharma, a consultant at the International Institute for Sustainable Development.

A single benchmark no longer exists. In some cases, charging speed is what matters; in others, it is energy density, and in still others, cost and scalability. In other words, the battery is ceasing to be a simple component. It is becoming the transversal energy infrastructure of the next industrial cycle. And those who can control not only the technology but also production, integration, and the grid will have an advantage that will be difficult to recover.

The intelligent integration of solar and storage is no longer optional. Data-driven approaches are essential to ensure compliance, efficiency, and long-term reliability. Building systems with insight not only prevents costly mistakes but also creates an energy ecosystem that is not just larger, but smarter, more resilient, and adaptable to future demands.

GE Vernova has secured an order from Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd to deliver nine 150 MW pumped-storage units for the 1.35 GW Upper Sileru hydropower plant in India. This marks the company’s second pumped-storage project with MEIL in India.

Uttar Pradesh Power Corp. Ltd (UPPCL) has allocated 1,500 MWh (375 MW × 4 hours) of standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity at a tariff of INR 6.45-6.46/kWh.

Renewable energy is abundant but intermittent. Demand is growing but uneven. Infrastructure exists but is often misaligned with where and when power is needed. In this environment, the grid has become more than a passive network; it is an active balancing system. Its resilience will determine whether the energy transition delivers stability or introduces volatility.

For years, the battery energy storage (BESS) story has followed a familiar script: costs fall, deployment accelerates, economics improve. Even when cell costs rose and system prices briefly flattened during the 2021-22 lithium price spike, the narrative largely held. Paola Perez Peña, senior principal analyst at S&P Global Energy, examines why the latest jump in lithium prices has only had limited impacts on overall BESS costs so far.

India’s rising power demand is increasingly being met by renewables, particularly during daytime peak hours. However, rising renewable curtailment shows that grid infrastructure and flexibility are not keeping pace with clean energy growth. With stronger transmission networks, more flexible grid operations, and faster battery deployment, a larger share of evening and night-time demand can also be met through non-fossil sources.

A new briefing note by Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) finds that India’s imports of key energy transition minerals and their compounds are highly concentrated, underscoring significant supply risks and the importance of diversification to enhance supply security.