India Accelerates Energy Storage Push for Reliable Renewable Power

22 Dec 2025 CW Team

Drawing on global best practices from countries with high renewable energy penetration, India is positioning energy storage to deliver critical ancillary services such as frequency control, voltage regulation, peak shifting, congestion management and black-start support. Under the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Ancillary Services) Regulations, 2022, energy storage systems have been made eligible to provide secondary and tertiary reserve services. Renewable Energy Management Centres and Automatic Generation Control mechanisms are also being deployed to support real-time grid balancing.

To guide large-scale deployment, the Central Electricity Authority has projected a requirement of around 336 GWh of storage capacity by 2029–30 and about 411 GWh by 2031–32. Energy storage has been embedded as a key resource in power sector planning through Resource Adequacy Plan guidelines issued in June 2023, alongside the National Electricity Plan.

Policy reforms include amendments to the Electricity Rules recognising energy storage as part of the power system, inclusion of storage in the harmonised infrastructure list to enable cheaper financing, and issuance of a National Framework for Promotion of Energy Storage Systems in September 2023. Safety and technical standards for BESS installations are also being strengthened through draft regulations.

On the demand and market side, waivers of inter-state transmission charges, tariff-based competitive bidding guidelines, and viability gap funding schemes covering about 43 GWh of BESS aim to improve project viability. Supply-side initiatives include a Rs 181 billion PLI scheme for advanced battery manufacturing and incentives for pumped storage development.

This information was shared by Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State for Power, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

The Government of India has stepped up efforts to develop and deploy energy storage capacities to address renewable energy intermittency and ensure grid stability, as the country advances its clean energy transition. A coordinated mix of policy, regulatory, market and manufacturing measures is being implemented to promote Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) as integral components of the power system.Drawing on global best practices from countries with high renewable energy penetration, India is positioning energy storage to deliver critical ancillary services such as frequency control, voltage regulation, peak shifting, congestion management and black-start support. Under the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Ancillary Services) Regulations, 2022, energy storage systems have been made eligible to provide secondary and tertiary reserve services. Renewable Energy Management Centres and Automatic Generation Control mechanisms are also being deployed to support real-time grid balancing.To guide large-scale deployment, the Central Electricity Authority has projected a requirement of around 336 GWh of storage capacity by 2029–30 and about 411 GWh by 2031–32. Energy storage has been embedded as a key resource in power sector planning through Resource Adequacy Plan guidelines issued in June 2023, alongside the National Electricity Plan.Policy reforms include amendments to the Electricity Rules recognising energy storage as part of the power system, inclusion of storage in the harmonised infrastructure list to enable cheaper financing, and issuance of a National Framework for Promotion of Energy Storage Systems in September 2023. Safety and technical standards for BESS installations are also being strengthened through draft regulations.On the demand and market side, waivers of inter-state transmission charges, tariff-based competitive bidding guidelines, and viability gap funding schemes covering about 43 GWh of BESS aim to improve project viability. Supply-side initiatives include a Rs 181 billion PLI scheme for advanced battery manufacturing and incentives for pumped storage development.This information was shared by Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State for Power, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

Infrastructure Transport

30 May 2026

Chembur Metro to Boost East Mumbai Links

MMRDA is advancing eastern Mumbai’s urban mobility network, with the upcoming Chembur Metro Station set to emerge as a key interchange and the Mumbai Monorail preparing for relaunch.Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA, conducted a site visit to Chembur Metro Station along with Kanhuraj Bagate, Managing Director, MMMOCL. He also visited the nearby VN Purav Monorail Station to review system preparedness and ease of interconnectivity.Once operational, the interchange is expected to offer commuters across the eastern suburbs quicker access, smoother transfers and seamless conne..

Equipment

30 May 2026

Herrenknecht TBMs Drive Thane–Borivali Tunnel Progress

Herrenknecht India has supplied two of the four tunnel boring machines (TBMs) required for the 11-km Thane–Borivali Twin Tunnel Project being developed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). The project is expected to reduce travel time between Thane and Borivali from 60–90 minutes to around 15 minutes while easing congestion across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.The first two Single Shield TBMs, named Nayak and Arjuna, feature 13.34-m cutterhead diameters and are designed for hard-rock excavation. They will be deployed to tunnel through the challenging geological..

Resources

29 May 2026

KBL Launches Smart Skid Mounted Fire Pump Set

Kirloskar Brothers (KBL) has launched its Smart Skid Mounted Fire Pump Set, an integrated fire protection solution designed to improve operational efficiency, remote monitoring and installation flexibility. The system was inaugurated by Ms Madhuritai Misal, Hon. Minister of State for Urban Development, Government of Maharashtra.The Smart Skid Mounted Fire Pump Set is a factory-tested, pre-packaged solution that combines FM/UL-certified motor and engine pump sets with IoT-enabled remote monitoring. Designed to deliver a flow rate of 170 m³/hr at a head of 100 metres, the system aims to provide..