Centre may add battery storage under revamped PM-KUSUM 2.0, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• The Centre is considering adding battery energy storage to the revamped PM-KUSUM 2.0 scheme.
• The current PM-KUSUM scheme, launched in 2019, is set to expire this month.
• The proposed addition aims to address the mismatch between agricultural power demand and solar generation patterns.
• As of February, 12,164 MW capacity has been installed under the scheme.
• The Centre has extended the timeline for financial closure and project completion under the scheme.

Detailed Insights:

• The current PM-KUSUM scheme focuses on the solarisation of agricultural pumps but lacks battery storage provisions.
• Agricultural power demand is highest in the morning and declines after sunset, while solar generation peaks around noon, creating operational challenges.
• The proposed battery storage will store surplus solar power during peak hours and supply it when demand persists but generation falls.
• Discussions are ongoing between the Ministry of Power and the MNRE regarding the extent of storage, with proposals for four-hour and two-hour capacities, respectively.
• PM-KUSUM comprises three components: decentralised solar power plants (Component A), standalone solar pumps (Component B), and solarising grid-connected agricultural pumps (Component C).
• Under Component C, the Centre supports both individual pump solarisation (IPS) and feeder-level solarisation (FLS).
• As of February, 839.4 MW capacity has been installed under Component A, over 10 lakh standalone agricultural pumps under Component B, and over 12,787 pumps have been solarised through IPS under Component C.
• Feeder-level solarisation has covered over 13 lakh pumps, with a total installed capacity of 6,636.9 MW.
• The Department of Expenditure (DoE) has provided guidance to subsume the existing timeline within the new scheme PM KUSUM 2.0.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Solarisation: The process of converting to solar power or equipping with solar energy technology.
• Battery Energy Storage System (BESS): A technology that stores electrical energy in batteries for later use.
• Feeder-level Solarisation (FLS): Solarising entire agricultural feeders instead of individual pumps.