Energetica India Magazine March - April 2026

to grow dramatically, with battery storage projected to scale from negligible levels today to tens of gigawatts over the next decade. Another key factor is the need for grid stability and flexibil - ity. Renewable energy does not generate power consistently throughout the day, leading to mismatches between supply and demand. BESS helps balance the grid by storing excess energy and supplying it during peak demand, improving re - liability. One major trend is supportive policy and regulatory frame - works, particularly in India. New policies are mandating stor - age alongside renewable projects, enabling multiple business models, and encouraging competitive procurement. These measures are accelerating adoption by making storage a core part of power planning rather than just an option. Globally, new demand drivers are also emerging. The rise of data centres, electrification, and digital infrastructure is in - creasing the need for reliable, high-quality power, which is further boosting storage demand. Finally, there is growing recognition of BESS as a tool for energy security and resilience. Whether it’s managing peak demand, avoiding blackouts, or supporting decentralised en - ergy systems, storage is becoming essential infrastructure for modern power systems. Importantly, BESS is no longer just an optional supporting technology; it is becoming a central pillar of the global energy transition, enabling cleaner, more flexible, and more resilient electricity networks. Q How do you see the role of large-scale energy storage evolving in enabling higher integration of solar power into national grids? Savek Dubey: Large-scale energy storage is set to play a trans - formative role in enabling higher integration of solar power into national grids. The most immediate impact is on time-shifting solar ener - gy. Solar generation is concentrated during daylight hours, while electricity demand typically peaks in the evening. Utili - ty-scale storage captures excess daytime solar generation and delivers it when demand rises, effectively turning solar into a more dependable, round-the-clock energy source. Beyond this, storage is becoming essential for managing vari - ability and grid stability. Sudden changes in solar output, due to cloud cover or weather shifts, can result in imbalanc - es in the grid. Large-scale batteries respond almost instantly, smoothing these fluctuations and maintaining stable frequen - cy and voltage levels. Another important evolution is the rise of dispatchable solar, where solar plants are paired with storage to supply power on demand rather than only when the sun is shining. This sig - nificantly enhances the value of solar energy, allowing it to compete more directly with conventional generation, especial - ly for peak power supply. Storage also helps optimise grid infrastructure by reducing curtailment of solar energy and easing congestion on trans - mission networks. Instead of wasting excess generation, the same energy can be stored and used later, improving over - all system efficiency and maximising output from the same source. Looking ahead, advanced storage systems with grid-forming capabilities will further strengthen solar integration by pro - viding essential grid services traditionally delivered by ther- mal power plants. In essence, large-scale energy storage is turning solar pow - er from an intermittent resource into a reliable and flexible backbone of future energy systems, making higher levels of solar penetration both practical and economically viable. Q From Sungrow’s perspective, what are the biggest barriers to scaling energy storage projects? Is it technology, regu - lation, financing, or grid integration? Savek Dubey: The barriers to scaling energy storage are not limited to a single factor. They span regulation, financing, and grid integration rather than technology alone. energetica INDIA- Mar-Apr_2026 25 INTERVIEW