Enabling India’s Energy Transition With Grid-Scale Energy Storage

As India continues to battle with power insecurity, innovative methods, especially those that integrate renewables, are now being tried and tested to meet the critical objective of universal access to electricity.    

 Let’s take the example of distributed generation technology models like micro grids. These, along with grid and battery backup facilities, can really help optimise local energy generation sources. With prices expected to simmer in a few years, storage technologies, especially batteries are being tapped simultaneously. In fact, the scale of impact can be said to be no less than ‘revolutionary’ for power generation and distribution systems operational practices.

Reliable power with grid-scale energy storage pilot project

Despite this, as per a recent study, till 2017, over three - quarters of all energy storage was installed in only ten countries[1]. Recognising the need to jointly work to address climate change and energy security challenges, India and the US are collaborating on a Smart Distribution Grid that would optimally utilise grid storage (UI-ASSIST: U.S.-India Collaborative for Smart Distribution System with Storage). What this could do is close the gap between smart grid, storage and renewable energy research, and help model a commercially viable solution for their adoption by distribution utilities. Together, the countries can move closer to a carbon-free electricity system - and their clean energy targets too.

To test potential deployable solutions for this partnership, TERI proposed a pilot project with BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd. (BRPL) to test smart grid functionalities, including battery energy storage systems (BESS), and EV charging stations in a live set up, within the BRPL licensed area. With funding support from the DST, Govt. Of India, this will be implemented for one of the selected LT Feeders, gated communities and institutions such as IIT Delhi and TERI University.

 Working around multiple challenges

It’s well known that load shedding remains a critical pain area for the power sector. In the situation of an outage, grid-connected rooftop systems fail to work, which means we lose a good amount of the energy generation from solar during day time. An important objective therefore, is to demonstrate the fullest use of solar power. Parallelly, the project will help to clip the peak demand in the night, encouraging energy saving by charging the battery in the day/lean/ off-peak time.

Thus, all efforts should aim at zero-compromise on the reliability of power supply. In fact, a survey with premium ‘High Tariff Paying Customers’ revealed that this section is willing to pay more if it is assured of reliable supply. However, what is important at the same time is to assess consumers’ reactions to any new innovations such energy storage (here, through gated residential community projects).

 The later part of this project will undertake research various other aspects - technical impact of large -scale rooftop solar power, and safety aspects of solar inver­­ters.

 All in all, an initiative like this will not only help get a pragmatic review, but also collect real-time data for further studies. These will form the base for innovations to come, and thus energy transition of the Indian power sector.  

[1] Source: DOE, 2017