Utility Scale Storage

The device is described as a heat engine with no moving parts that is able to produce power from a heat source of between 1,900 to 2,400 C. This concept is known as thermal energy grid storage (TEGS) and consists of a low-cost, grid-scale storage technology that uses thermophotovoltaic cells to convert heat to electricity above 2,000 C.

Ensuring pragmatic energy storage transformation is proportional to tweaking the current battery storage chemistry. Zinc battery technology is gaining traction, changing the prevailing energy storage dynamics.

BSES Yamuna Power Limited has deployed a digital solution pilot project that predicts the energy demand at consumption points like electric vehicle charging stations and energy generation capacity at solar rooftops. This will help the utility plan to store excess energy by considering the distribution congestion and commercial aspects. 

Norwegian renewable energy developer Statkraft has partnered Norway’s green investment company Aker Horizons to explore fully-integrated renewable power generation and green hydrogen production in India, targeting local steel and fertilizer industries.

RK Singh, India’s power minister, and president of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly, called on nations to support solar investments in developing and under-developed regions, including Africa, through low-cost finance and credit guarantee fund.

Natural hydrogen is piquing interest. Sometimes referred to as “gold” or “white” hydrogen, natural hydrogen plants offer smaller carbon footprints than sprawling green hydrogen projects, with faster development times, according to Avon McIntyre, executive director of HyTerra.

Domestic bids are invited to develop a 10 MW of grid-connected battery energy storage system (BESS) project at NTPC Ramagundam power station on a turnkey basis. The plant should have 40 MWh (10 MW x 4 hours) of storage capacity. Bidding closes on May 23.

Japan’s Panasonic claims its new pilot solar-plus-hydrogen facility marks the first attempt to create a factory powered by 100% renewables, via the full-scale use of hydrogen.

Developed by an MIT spin-off, the device is based on a standard, two-electrode electrochemical cell containing conductive polymers, a carbon-graphene hybrid, and a non-flammable liquid electrolyte. The battery cells were tested to perform for 12,000 cycles at 100% depth of discharge.

Global bids are invited to develop a cumulative 500MW of battery energy storage system facilities on a ‘build-own-operate-transfer’ (BOOT) basis in the Indian State of Rajasthan. The proposed plants can be set up in two projects of 250MW size, each with the capacity to store at least two hours of electricity. Bidding closes on June 10.