Utility Scale Storage

India’s robust economic growth translates to rising demand for energy. This demand provides a substantial market for renewable energy investments, encouraging firms to venture into this sector. However, as the nation marches ahead in RE adoption, it needs to overcome challenges like high capital costs and inadequate grid infrastructure.

Iberdrola has started filling the reservoir for the Alto Tâmega reservoir, which is part of the largest pumped hydroelectric storage project in Portugal.

Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI) has launched a tender to select developers for 800 MW of firm and dispatchable power from renewable power projects with energy storage systems. Bidding closes on Sept. 29.

Indian scientists have suggested building pumped-hydro storage systems connected to solar plants using mines as the lower reservoir and nearby rivers as the upper reservoir. They claim that the proposed combination may reach a levelized cost of energy of $0.2693/kWh.

NTPC has invited an expression of interest to supply, design, install and commission a mechanical energy storage system at its Talcher Thermal Power station in Odisha. The project is intended for demonstration purposes.

A research team has developed OHP-based photoanodes for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting, minimizing the usual limitations. Meanwhile, China released its first hydrogen guideline, and Germany announced €18.6 billion for the hydrogen industry. Finally, a German company finds out that hydrogen trains are more expensive than battery-operated vehicles.

Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd has allocated 600 MW in its 1.2 GW solar-with-storage tender. The lowest discovered tariff was INR 6.68 ($0.081)/kWh.

Grid-scale battery storage systems have surpassed the charging capacity of pumped hydro in Australia’s national grid, following the recent completion of two new battery projects, totaling 150 MW.

Sungrow will supply its 1+X modular inverter solution to the 2.2 GW AC solar plant of the NEOM green hydrogen project. The PV plant is being executed by Larsen & Toubro on an EPC basis.

The state-run explorer Oil and Natural Gas Corp. Ltd (ONGC) aims to achieve an installed renewable energy (RE) capacity of 10 GW by 2030 and 1 million tonnes per annum capacity of green ammonia production as part of its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.