World Energy Storage Day and its Significance for India

4th World Energy Storage Day

With a rising focus on the effective integration of renewable energy, the importance of electric vehicle and reliable, resilient energy supply, energy storage is becoming an increasingly important tool in the electricity ecosystem. With energy storage rising to the forefront of industry developments, World Energy Storage Day was celebrated on 22nd September every year by various global industry stakeholders, policy makers, think tanks and associations to acknowledge its importance across the globe. On the 4th World Energy Storage Day, India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) organized a one-of-its-kind global conference & expo to develop a global ecosystem for energy storage and e-mobility markets. The event was held virtually on September 22, 2020 across four regions encompassing sessions on Policy and Government Initiatives, Stationary Energy Storage Panel Discussion, E-Mobility Panel and latest innovations and developments in the energy sector. 2019 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, Dr Stanley Whittingham was the key speaker who is currently working as a professor of Chemistry in Binghamton University, State University of New York. The event brought together 75+ global thought leaders and policy makers to share insights on the policy, technology, and business landscape in each of the four global regions.

The Answer to our Energy Woes

Energy storage is often used to improve power access and intermittent power. It can be used to help the grid return to its normal operation after a disturbance. In addition to stabilizing the grid after disturbances, energy storage can also be used to support normal operations of the grid such as injecting and absorbing power to maintain grid frequency in the face of fluctuations. At the transmission level, storage asset can provide power for up to two hours in response to a sudden loss of generation or an outage. Load shifting is achieved by storing energy during periods of low demand and releasing the stored energy during periods of high demand. There is sizable potential for advanced storage technologies in new applications apart from the opportunity for existing technologies to improve upon their performance for traditional applications.

Emerging energy storage systems may provide several technical benefits. Advanced energy storage technologies have been making their entry into the market with Li-ion being widely implemented in telecom towers and portable electronics. Flow batteries are being preferred for diesel replacement, microgrid and solar integration while Nickel based batteries are gaining momentum in applications like standby support for Commercial and Industrial applications. A major application of Energy Storage lies in the integration of intermittent renewable energy sources for applications including wind power and solar energy. In grids with a significant share of wind generation, irregularity, and variability in generation output due to unpredictable changes in wind patterns can lead to imbalances between generation and load that in turn result in irregularities in grid frequency.

Energy storage can provide a quick response to such imbalances and irregularities without the harmful emissions and negative environmental effects of most conventional solutions. Also, since wind power systems are often located in remote areas that are poorly connected by transmission and distribution systems, sometimes operators may be asked to curtail production, resulting in loss of energy production opportunity. Alternatively, system operators may be required to invest in expanding the transmission and distribution infrastructure. An energy storage system located in proximity to wind generation can allow excess energy to be stored and delivered timely upon ease of transmission. Energy storage can also be used to store the energy generated during periods of low demand (and favourable wind conditions) and deliver it during periods of high demand.

India Picture:

Covid 19 has caused a major disruption to not just the industry but every one of us. In the immediate aftermath of the COVID 19, the supply chain constraints did affect, so as the demand variability. The battery pack manufacturers in India are currently assembling high capacity packs with the goal to target electric vehicles and stationary storage market. Assembling of Li-ion battery packs is a dynamic industry in India and is growing at a healthy pace. The GoI focussed on the promotion of domestic manufacturing through cohesive policy initiatives.

The government approved setting up of the National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage and Phased Manufacturing Program. NITI Aayog promoted Make in India by starting work on the ambitious India giga-factories plan with a projection that India will need around 50 GWh of domestic manufacturing capability by 2025. An MoU was signed between KABIL from India and JEMSE from Argentina for sourcing of Lithium and Cobalt. With respect to large scale energy storage installations with renewable or for grid stability India is at nascent stage.

But central agencies like SECI and others are proactive during COVID time with the release of multiple energy storage integrated tenders and appropriate policy discussion on RTC and peak management. Recently, two projects for peak management and RTC for RE with energy storage options and SECI’s Solar+ Energy Storage tender for Lakshadweep islands allocated to two leading companies in India. In the meantime, NLC India Commissioned 20 MW Solar Project with 8 MWh (16 MW) Battery Energy Storage in Andaman. 2019 also saw a number of announcements by Indian industry majors like the Mahindra Group, the Tata Group, the Adani Group and Exide to partner with global companies like LG Chem, Leclanche, Suzuki Motor Corp, Toshiba and Denso in order to bring indigenous manufacturing of battery cells to India.

Conclusion:

According to IESA’s analysis, the Stationary energy storage market will grow to 37 GWh by 2027 and EV battery to grow to 66 GWh by 2020- 2027. At IESA, we, however, believe that it is high time for the Indian industry to take up R&D and advanced cell manufacturing so that we reduce our dependence on other countries. The recent pandemic related to COVID19 has highlighted the importance of domestic manufacturing considering the risk of global supply chain disruptions. Energy storage and EVs have importance for national energy security and we should learn from the recent events and accelerate our efforts for building domestic capabilities.

The journey for energy storage in India has a new beginning. We look forward to a ring side view of this transformation and to play a key role in building the ecosystem for the transition to a greener tomorrow.

- Debi Prasad Dash, Executive Director, India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA)