Govt to set up 14 GWh grid-scale battery storage system in Gujarat

Minister of New and Renewable Energy Raj Kumar Singh told the media that the centre has planned to set up around 14 GWh grid-scale battery storage system at the largest renewable energy park in the world at Khavda in Gujarat.

India's grid power can remain stable with large battery storage, and electricity can be produced directly from renewable sources like solar and wind. A 1 GWh battery-storage capacity can supply power to one million homes for an hour and about 30,000 electric cars.

In a conclave meeting on Friday, Singh said that the highest installed storage capacity is about 400 MWh, but he came up with a 1,000 MWh bid, which was also insufficient and required 4,000 MWh.

The government aims to bid for 4 GWh grid-scale battery storage at regional centres. Additionally, National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) has also invited bids for installing a 1 GWh grid-scale battery storage capacity.

The Khavda renewable energy park in Kutch, Gujarat, will be the world's largest renewable power generator to generate 30 GW of renewable energy, said the government.

PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the renewable park in December 2020. The park spreads across 72,600 hectare, which requires an investment of Rs 1.5 trillion.

India has planned to set up solar and wind projects along its border in Kutch, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Barmer.

Currently, India has over 100 GW installed solar and wind power capacity and 63 GW under construction.

India aims for 175 GW renewable capacity by 2022 and 450 GW by 2030. For this huge electricity from solar and wind in the grid, a storage system can help to balance the electricity grid in the country.

The Central Electricity Authority added that it will need 27 GW grid-scale storage systems by 2030, having four hours of storage capacity.

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has also announced its plan to set up the Giga factory. Recently, India announced its Rs 18,100 crore production linked incentive scheme, including a 55 GWh manufacturing unit for advanced chemical cell batteries.

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