Advanced Technologies Can Transform Energy Sector

Systematic energy storage can provide impetus to local manufacturing and system integration capabilities

- Rahul Walawalkar

Energy storage technologies have huge potential to significantly contribute to the transformation of Indian electric grid towards a greener, resilient and reliable grid within the next decade. Advanced energy storage technologies can play an important role in renewable integration, energy access, electric mobility and smart cities initiatives by the government.

Ever since the existence of an electrical grid, operators have been looking for ways to safely and efficiently store energy so that it can be supplied and consumed on demand. Over 20 different types of grid scale energy storage technologies are either commercially available and/or are under development across different regions worldwide. This includes mechanical storage like pumped hydro storage, flywheels, compressed air and electrochemical storage such as lead acid, advanced lead acid, lithium ion chemistries, sodium-based batteries, nickel-based batteries and flow batteries. Advancements in fuel cells and traditional thermal storage are also relevant to various emerging applications.

Energy storage is resource-neutral i.e. it allows us to use electricity more efficiently, regardless of the power source. Whether the energy production is from a thermal power plant or wind power from a field of turbines, energy storage technologies can capture the energy and make it available when most needed. It also provides quality and reliable power to the end consumers.

There are an estimated 240 million people who still do not have connectivity to the grid which needs to be addressed. The total energy storage market between 2015 and 2022 in India is expected to rise from 4.4 GW to 70 GW. Out of 70 GW, over 35 GW of demand is expected from newer applications like wind and solar integration, frequency regulation, peak management, transmission and distribution deferral, diesel replacement and electric vehicles.