Image: Alok Sharma via Twitter. India’s government has added an Energy Storage Obligation alongside its Renewable Purchase Obligation for the first time. Meanwhile, a government thinktank has predicted around 180GWh of demand for batteries for stationary energy storage systems (ESS) by 2030.
Meanwhile, a government thinktank has predicted around 180GWh of demand for batteries for stationary energy storage systems (ESS) by 2030. India’s government has added an Energy Storage Obligation alongside its Renewable Purchase Obligation for the first time.
If Indian policymakers want to broaden the role of energy storage in the power system, an important first step is to include energy storage in national energy policies and programs.
India's energy policy framework largely excludes energy storage from key programs and initiatives. The lack of policy guidelines and supporting programs to direct the scope and scale of energy storage deployment present a barrier for investments.
The technical system characteristics of the Indian power system are favorable for energy storage to reduce operating cost and improve system reliability. Storage can provide energy arbitrage, ancillary services, and potentially defer transmission investments, but existing policy and regulatory barriers may limit these opportunities.
The Indian Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), in 2013, estimated that by 2020, the market potential in India for energy storage systems in renewable energy applications alone would be in the vicinity of 6000 MW.