Centre issues tender for setting up 2,000-MWh of grid-scale BESS

Union Power Minister, RK Singh said that India will come out with a tender for setting up 2,000 megawatt hour (MWh) of grid-scale battery energy storage system (BESS). This will aid in better grid management while accommodating renewable energy (RE) sources. Speaking at the first EU-India Green Hydrogen Forum, Singh, who also holds the charge for New & Renewable Energy Ministry, said, “I am adding storage. We came out with a bid for 1,000 MWh. We will come with another bid for 2,000 MWh storage. The quantity of storage which we will be adding, nobody else will be adding because I want RTC green energy. I am serious about energy transition.” Gird-scale BESS allows power utilities to store energy and deploy it later depending on demand, variability, etc. It becomes crucial for India as the country will need to accommodate 500 GW of non-fossil fuel power requiring grid operators to handle intermittency as well as supply round-the-clock (RTC) power through RE sources. There are various battery chemistries available or under testing including lithium-ion, lead-acid, redox flow, and molten salt (including sodium-based). Also read: SECI floats tender for Standalone Battery Energy Storage System