BESS in India’s clean energy transition, Pg7

Key Highlights: - Context: Government sets an ambitious target to install 47 GW of BESS by 2032 to support renewable energy integration. - Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) mitigate the intermittency of renewables and improve grid stability. - India targets 500 GW of non-fossil fuel power capacity by 2030; has achieved 217.62 GW as of Jan 2025. - Key barriers: financing gaps, slow deployment, critical mineral access, and infrastructure delays. Detailed Insights: - Changing Energy Paradigm: Energy security now rests on availability, accessibility, affordability, and environmental acceptability. - Why BESS Matters: Ensures load balancing, peak demand management, and decentralised power access; helps fulfil SDG 7. - Cost and Tech Improvements: Battery prices have dropped ~90% in 15 years, improving feasibility of BESS. - Regulatory Challenges: Lack of battery-specific market frameworks, slow procurement cycles, and delayed agreements hinder scale-up. - Economic Survey Findings: Calls for faster grid upgrades, battery indigenisation, critical mineral sourcing, and innovation investment. - Strategic Alliances: Public-private-philanthropic coalitions like GEAPP-backed BESS consortium key to accelerated rollout. - India’s Potential: With local manufacturing and recycling capacity, India can lead in BESS deployment among emerging economies. Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved: - Battery Energy Storage System (BESS): A technology that stores electrical energy for later use, crucial for managing intermittent renewable power sources. - Viability Gap Funding (VGF): Financial support from the government to make infrastructure projects commercially viable. - Critical Minerals: Essential raw materials like lithium and cobalt used in energy storage systems and EVs.

Mains Mock Question:

Discuss the role of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in India’s renewable energy transition. Highlight the challenges in its large-scale adoption and suggest policy measures to overcome them.