Utility Scale Storage

The Indian solar PV sector is experiencing transformative trends, driven by a combination of technological advancements, government support, and a growing awareness of the need for sustainable energy sources. The rapid expansion of solar capacity, coupled with innovations such as floating solar farms and green hydrogen production, paints a promising picture for the future of renewable energy in India.

A new report by IEEFA and JMK Research says energy storage systems are poised to attract the highest investment of all emerging renewable energy sectors this decade, concurrent with the increasing penetration of renewable energy in the nation’s electricity grid.

Ark Energy’s 275 MW/2,200 MWh lithium-iron phosphate battery to be built in northern New South Wales has been announced as one of the successful projects in the third tender conducted under the state government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap. The Richmond Valley Battery Energy Storage System will likely be the biggest eight-hour lithium battery in the world when it is completed.

KPIT, an India-based automotive software and engineering solutions supplier, has unveiled its proprietary sodium-ion battery technology, and is now on the lookout for manufacturing partners. Ravi Pandit, chairman of KPIT, tells pv magazine, that that the company has developed multiple variants with energy density ranging from 100 Wh/kg to 170 Wh/kg, and potentially reaching 220 Wh/kg.

The government’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for electrolyzer manufacturing has received an overwhelming response with bids received for 2.28 times the capacity to be awarded.

Aether Industries has announced entry into the electrolyte additives and battery space after a substantial contract signed with an undisclosed lithium-ion battery producer.  

RK Singh, union minister for power and new & renewable energy, stated recently that the dependence on coal-based generation is likely to continue till cost-effective energy storage solutions are available.

PreussenElektra has revealed plans to potentially develop Europe’s largest battery storage facility at the decommissioned Brokdorf nuclear power plant site in Germany, with 800 MW/1,600 MWh of capacity. The site operator now needs to secure approval to dismantle the nuclear plant.

Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy’s INR 1,500 crore ($180 million) qualified institutions placement issue received an overwhelming response from both domestic mutual funds and marquee global foreign institutional investors.

Researchers from Norway have discovered that adding batteries to projects that combine hydropower and floating PV could increase annual profits by as much as 2%, due to revenues from ancillary services and capacity markets.