In Short : India must urgently scale up battery storage to fully harness its solar potential. Key steps include supportive policies, domestic battery manufacturing, and mandating storage in solar projects. Grid-scale storage, innovative business models, and investment in alternate technologies like pumped hydro and green hydrogen are vital. Accelerated deployment is crucial for energy security and achieving India’s renewable energy goals.
In Detail : India’s vast solar potential remains underutilized without adequate battery storage solutions. With solar power being intermittent, storage is crucial to ensure a stable and continuous power supply, especially during non-sunny hours. To bridge this gap, the country must adopt a multi-pronged strategy focusing on policy, infrastructure, and innovation.
A strong policy and regulatory framework is essential. Introducing measures like storage purchase obligations, time-of-day pricing, and dedicated incentives under a national storage mission can drive large-scale adoption. These steps would help align economic incentives with the needs of a renewables-led power sector.
Boosting domestic manufacturing of battery technologies is another critical step. By leveraging the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, India can reduce import dependence and encourage the development of lithium-ion and newer alternatives such as sodium-ion and flow batteries. This not only supports energy security but also creates green jobs.
Integrating storage with solar power projects should become standard. New solar tenders can mandate a storage component, particularly in regions with strong solar potential but weak grid infrastructure. Hybrid solar-plus-storage systems can enhance reliability and reduce curtailment of excess solar power.
Grid-scale battery projects must be prioritized. Investments from both the public and private sectors in large-scale systems will help stabilize the grid, especially during peak hours. Public-private partnerships and state-level initiatives can accelerate deployment and set a precedent for wider adoption.
In parallel, India should continue investing in R&D for alternative storage technologies such as pumped hydro, green hydrogen, and thermal storage. Innovation in business models, like battery leasing or aggregation services, will also be essential in making storage solutions more affordable and accessible across user segments.
