ROLE OF BESS IN SHAPING INDIA'S ENERGY TRANSITION

India's energy sector is rapidly evolving with a strong push toward renewable energy, aiming for 500 GW capacity by 2030 and deploying 47 GW of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) by 2032 to stabilize the grid. Key initiatives like rooftop solar, green hydrogen, and digital grid management are supported by robust policy, infrastructure investments, and international cooperation.

Last Updated on 9th June, 2025
5 minutes, 48 seconds

Description

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Context:

India has inaugurated South Asia’s largest 20 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Delhi.

What is India’s Present Energy Status?

India's energy sector is globally the most diverse, encompassing coal, oil, natural gas, hydroelectric, atomic, wind, solar, and biomass energy sources. It is also home to the third-largest energy and oil consumer, the fourth-largest refiner and LNG importer, more than 96,000 retail fuel outlets, and a 25,000 km gas pipeline network. Notable developments include:

Category

Details

Established Capacity

- Total as of April 2024: 442.85 GW

- Renewable Energy: 125 GW

- 2030 Target: 500 GW Renewable

Rural Electrification

- Over 2 crore houses electrified

- 18,374 villages electrified

- Schemes: Saubhagya, DDUGJY

Renewable Push

- India already linked to 200 GW RE capacity

- Target of 500 GW by 2030

Rooftop Solar Revolution

- PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana

- Target: 1 crore rooftop solar homes

- Budget Allocation: ₹20,000 crores (2025–26)

E&P (Hydrocarbon Discoveries)

- 25+ discoveries by ONGC & Oil India

- Estimated: 75 mmtoe oil and 2,700 mmscm gas in various basins

City Gas Distribution (CGD)

- Expansion from 55 GAs (2014) to 307 GAs (2025)

- 1.5 crore PNG connections - 7,500 CNG stations

Biofuel Leadership

- Ethanol blending: 1.5% (2013) to 19.7% (2025)

- ₹1.26 lakh crores forex savings

- Emission reduction: 643 lakh tonnes CO₂

Energy Infrastructure

- 24,000 km of product pipelines

- 96,000+ retail outlets

- 24% of ₹111 lakh crore NIP allocated to energy (≈ $1.4 trillion)

International Cooperation

- ONGC-BP partnership

- Data sharing with University of Houston

- Focus on investment & tech transfer

Key Policy Initiatives:

SAUBHAGYA: Electrified in more than 2 crore rural homes

Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana: Electrified 18,374 Villages

PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana: To target roof solar installations in 1 crore homes with allocation of rupees. 20,000 crore rupees 2025-26 in budget

SATAT Plan: Promoting compressed biogas (CBG); More than 100 plants were commissioned

Ujjwala Yojana: Ensuring cheap LPG access.

Role of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

  • BES provides a solution to the internal nature of renewable energy, increasing grid stability.
  • BESS can integrate renewable items, stabilize grids, balance demand-supply fluctuations and manage the summit load.
  • They are inexpensive, scalable, rapidly deployed and geographically flexible.
  • Integration of BESS can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • With a decline of an average battery cost in the last 15 years, the cost and the decline in progress has accelerated the BESS expansion.

Challenges and Opportunities in India:

  • India aims for 500 GW installed power capacity by 2030, achieving 217.62 GW by 2025.
  • The government has committed to deploy 47 GW BESS by 2032.
  • Challenges include grid upgrade, deployment speed, significant mineral access, and investment requirements for delay in agreement.
  • Innovative partnerships are important, such as a  $300 million platform for greenfield projects and EnerGrid, Greenfield Projects in Delhi.

Way Forward:

  • Diversity and decentralization in energy mixture: India should expand beyond solar and air to include atoms, hydro and biomass in its energy basket. Decentralized renewable energy (DRE) can provide electricity to rural and remote areas such as roof solar and mini-grids. PM Surya Ghar Yojana and Bastar Microgrids are models.
    • Example: roof solar under PM Surya Ghar.
  • Green hydrogen and battery storage push: Scale up the National Green Hydrogen Mission and Pilot Corridor in Panipat and Numaligarh. Boost the battery energy storage systems (BESS) through the production-link incentive (PLI) schemes and PPP models. Domestic giga Factories will reduce storage import dependence.
    • Example: Panipat Green Hydrogen Project was scaled.
  • Improvement Discom and Strong Transmission: Uday 2.0 should focus on smart metering, prepaid billing and direct benefit transfer (DBT). A ₹ 9.15 lakh crore grid expansion scheme will reduce the withdrawal again. AT&C disadvantage is necessary for financial health.
    • Example: ₹ 9.15 lakh crore grid scheme
  • Digitalization and AI-operated grid management: AI tools such as GPP in Rajasthan increase demand, load balance and increase outage response. PM Gati Shakti and Digital Twins improve asset mapping and coordination. Integrated energy platforms will conduct future proof operations.
    • Example: GEAPP Pilot in Rajasthan Grid.

Source: The Hindu

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. India has made significant strides in diversifying its energy mix and scaling renewable energy targets. In this context, discuss the role of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in achieving energy security and sustainability. Highlight the associated challenges and suggest a comprehensive way forward for India's energy future? (250 words)

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