Coal to stay relevant with 150GW projection for 2047 despite renewable energy expansion: VK Saraswat

India must establish nationally accredited testing facilities for battery energy storage systems to support its ambitious clean energy transition, according to Dr VK Saraswat, member of NITI Aayog.

Addressing FICCI’S Energy Storage Conference 2024, VK Sarawant highlighted the significant gap in testing and certification infrastructure as India aims to deploy over 238-gigawatt hours of battery storage capacity by 2030 to balance its expanding renewable energy network.

He called for authorising third-party testing and certification till the time the government sets up storage certification agencies.

Dr Saraswat underlined that India requires a universal standard for all types of energy storage systems. He revealed that while India’s Bureau of Indian Standards has developed 17 specifications for energy storage systems, with more under development, the country lacks adequate facilities to verify compliance with these standards.

He also underscored that coal will maintain a substantial presence in India’s energy mix despite aggressive renewable energy targets, with a projected capacity of 150 gigawatts in 2047, down from the current level of 218 gigawatts. Solar capacity is expected to expand substantially by 2047, requiring extensive storage integration.

Dr Saraswat outlined various storage technologies under consideration, including pumped hydro, which has identified a potential of 100 gigawatts across 60 sites. Flow batteries, sodium-sulphur systems, and emerging technologies like aluminium-air batteries are being evaluated alongside conventional lithium-ion solutions.

On occasion, Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairman, Central Electricity Authority, noted that India will need to accelerate its pumped hydroelectric storage capacity to 51 gigawatts by 2032, a significant increase from earlier estimates.

The revised target represents a dramatic increase from the original goal of 22GW, driven by the need to manage evening demand when solar generation, which now contributes about 56GW to the grid, is unavailable.

Prasad outlined several practical implementation approaches, including mandating storage components for solar and wind projects, integrating storage with coal plants operating at technical minimums, and optimising transmission infrastructure through time-stamped connectivity.

Shivanand Nimbargi, Chair, FICCI Renewable Energy CEOs Committee and MD & CEO, Ayana Renewable Power, emphasised that while the government’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for battery cells was welcome, further steps were needed to develop local manufacturing capabilities.

He called for an enhanced focus on research and development, proposing collaboration between premier institutions like IITs and IISc.

The conference deliberated on the energy storage solutions ecosystem, from technology and innovations to the financial landscape, state policy regimes, end-user perspectives, and regulatory frameworks.