Energy storage is an integral component of electricity generation, transmission and distribution systems. Traditionally, energy storage needs have been met by physical storage of fuel for thermal power plants as well as through large-scale pumped hydro storage plants. However, the power landscape has changed with a focus on renewable energy generation, mainly wind and solar photovoltaic (PV). This shift has made delivering reliable power a big challenge. Wind and solar power installations generate power only intermittently and with a highly variable output. Furthermore, unlike a traditional centralised generation plant, these new sources may be located anywhere, including remote locations.
Such fundamental changes in the grid call for smart and efficient power transmission and distribution (T&D) networks. They require energy storage solutions at appropriate locations to balance the gap between generation and consumption and maintain grid stability. Integrating battery energy storage systems (BESS) with smart grids is, thus, an important requirement for modern power systems.
Advantages of BESS integration with smart grids
The smart grid integrated with BESS can be treated as a single huge resource serving multiple applications. The BESS integrated smart grid can provide benefits such as deferral of T&D equipment upgrades and replacements; avoidance of combustion turbines by providing despatchable local energy storage sources; reduced ramping impacts (both wear and tear and reduced efficiency) on fossil generators caused by renewable energy intermittency; shift in wind and solar energy generation from primarily off-peak to meet daily peak needs, etc. Some other benefits are provision of arbitrage opportunities by allowing load serving entities or consumers to buy and store low-cost energy during off-peak periods to displace higher cost generation during peak periods; provision of ancillary services such as high-cost frequency regulation, as well as spinning reserve and black start capacity; and reduced T&D line congestion and electrical losses by placing batteries at T&D interfaces, on distribution circuits and next to customers.
With the integration of BESS, there will be improvement in power quality and reactive power despatch, enabled by high speed, flexible power electronic battery-to-grid interfaces; and improvement in voltage recovery as well as possible avoidance of voltage collapse. This technology can also enable fast charging of electric vehicles (EVs) without expanding the existing distribution system. Apart from this, it will enable islanding of a grid into multiple microgrids; transient stability support for very weak networks. The integration of BESS will also yield multiple environmental benefits by displacing peaking combustion turbines, enabling renewable generation, and reducing T&D losses.
Indian scenario
According to the ISGF, the energy storage market in India witnessed 23 GWh of battery storage demand in 2018, of which 56 per cent came from the inverter segment. The EV industry consumed over 5 GWh of batteries in 2018 in India. This number is likely to reach over 36 GWh by 2025. Further, India is expected to require 9,645 MWh of battery storage by 2022. Of this, 6,000 MWh is expected to be for the low voltage (LV) grid and 3,645 MWh for the medium voltage (MV) grid. By 2027, this requirement is expected to increase to 24,013 MWh, with 15,220 MWh in the LV grid and 8,793 in the MV grid. In 2032, India is expected to have a BESS requirement of 34,389 MWh – 22,294 MWh in the LV grid and 12,095 MWh in the MV grid.
In October 2021, the government released a public notice to bring out a comprehensive policy on energy storage in the power sector. The policy would broadly focus on regulatory, financial and taxation, demand management and technological aspects to speed up the implementation of ESS and thus absorb the large-scale renewable energy into the system in the coming years. It also plans to set up a 14 GWh grid-scale BESS at the world’s largest renewable energy park at Khavda, Gujarat. Further, bids have been invited for the largest global tender for setting up a 13 GWh grid-scale battery storage system in Ladakh. The government also plans to invite bids for setting up around 4 GWh of grid-scale BESSs at the regional load despatch centres. Last year, NTPC Limited floated a global tender for setting up a 1 GWh grid-scale BESS.
To attract investments in the sector, the SECI has awarded key tenders in recent months. In August 2021, Tata Power Solar Systems was awarded a Rs 3.86 billion order to build a 50 MWp solar PV plant with a 50 MWh BESS at Phyang village in Leh. The commercial operation date is set for March 2023 and this project will be India’s first co-located large-scale BESS and the first large-scale solar PV project in the Union Territory of Ladakh. In December 2021, SECI awarded a contract to Tata Power Solar Systems for setting up a 100 MW (AC) solar project with a 40 MW/120 MWh BESS at Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh.
Challenges on the way
With rapid growth in the BESS ecosystem, the associated challenges are also likely to increase in the short to medium term. In order to provide effective solutions, it is important to take a deeper look at the various challenges that lie ahead for the energy storage sector. These include the imbalance between electricity supply and demand, lack of low-cost finance, safety of battery technologies, premature degradation of batteries, low utilisation rate of parallelisation of battery strings and regional power shortages. Another hurdle may be the long recovery time of system failures, especially in remote regions, which may not have adequate connectivity. Since the industry is still at a nascent stage, diverse stakeholders such as manufacturers, industrialists, end-users and researchers may have to consider such challenges to ensure that the sector grows in a streamlined and effective manner.
The industry may also have to tackle the high initial costs of over-configuration on battery systems. Lack of standardisation tools at present, both within the country and internationally, may also create apprehension among developers to pursue projects in the sector. Despite falling prices of various battery storage components over the past few years, the perception of high costs throughout the supply chain continue to exist. These can be overcome by putting forward suitable government support mechanisms. Incorporting essential ancillary support mechanisms such as cybersecurity and software management tools may also lead to additional costs associated with the deployment of storage systems.
Additionally, in recent years, there have been significant innovations in the materials used in battery energy storage systems. Identifying the most efficient material for energy storage, keeping in view the climatic conditions particular to a region as well as the source of renewable energy, is crucial. Climatic parameters such as humidity and dust may negatively impact certain materials as compared to others. Thus, in-depth research to understand and identify appropriate materials, given the needs of different regions and environments, would have to be undertaken in the coming period. Furthermore, battery storage systems with longer-duration capacities would also have to be established in order to make BESS a successful grid stabilisation tool in the long run.
The way forward
Overall, with India targeting 500 GW of renewables by 2030, BESS deployments are expected to pick up pace in the next few years and policymakers will need to integrate BESS in their energy master plans. There is also a need for increased incentives for the development and financing of BESS projects such as loan guarantees for first movers, low-interest loans and grants. Warranties may be given to financiers to ensure greater dissemination of funds and investments to energy storage developers. Moreover, back-end support, in terms of cybersecurity, communication and transmission software, and grid upgradation will be essential for a resilient and reliable energy storage network.
As certain technological and economic barriers exist to establish effective energy storage systems, strategies to counter these challenges must be adopted rigorously. Technological development, supplemented by research and innovation in the storage sphere, is also crucial to create effective clean energy solutions in the future. Such developments must also consider the impact of different BESS technologies on the environment and on emission outcomes.
Finally, building a robust regulatory environment, which establishes energy storage standards and a well-defined market structure will be imperative in the coming years. Establishing effective regulations would entail not only studying the present market dynamics but also undertaking an in-depth analysis of local experiences, insights and limitations.
