Storage to find its acceptability in steerage technology

Discussion on the potential role of storage in providing resilience, reliability, and security services, its technology barriers to utilising batteries for longer-term outages.

It is clear that while storage is struggling to find its acceptability in market now, the future for steerage technology shall be bright in days to come. Additionally EV’s shall also have a role to play in offsetting the solar PV peak generation and enabling the consumers to use that energy at night while also curbing the carbon emissions. So that storage technologies supporting the tomorrow’s revolution from today.

The role of storage in providing resilience, reliability, and security services
Ancillary services in renewable energy shall require an increased uptake of storage technology as the forecasting and scheduling regulations come into effect next year. Major states like Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh have already notified their scheduling and forecasting regulations. Sunil Rathi, Director, Waaree Energies says, “These states constitute about 70 per cent of installed capacity of solar energy plants in India. These regulations, when put into effect, would charge the solar plant owners for a specified deviation in their forecast. Such deviation after a threshold limit would lead to penalising the solar generators. Additionally, the solar energy generators may or may not be compensated for such additional generation. This would pave way for storage technology in addition to advanced forecasting and scheduling technology.”

Barriers to utilising batteries for longer-term outrages
Long term outrages need the battery to be utilised for longer duration of time at deeper discharge rates, all of which could possibly damage the battery to a certain extent. Sunil Rathi, Director, Waaree Energies says, “While the technology is in place, the uptake of such storage technologies is still sluggish, initial cost still being an intrinsic barrier. However, along with passing times and enhanced visibility around the technology, it shall be self-sustaining.”

Siddharth Gangal, CEO, The Solar Labs says, “To understand barriers in battery deployment, we must target the factors that determine battery economics. There are several battery technologies, some outperforming others today on cost.” Yet they stand to lose the race in long term. Different operators of battery systems rely on proprietary technology, from hardware to battery management systems. Even a minute difference in specifications (for example: systems chemistry, voltages, cooling protocols) creates a tonne of complexity to
standardise a network.

Usage of batteries will benefit the advancement of renewable sources of electricity production. Bringing more efficiency into the system and reducing overall costs to the customer. The challenge to solve is integration of Vehicle-to-grid (and vice-versa) functions. This will bring a lot of regulation to a nascent market. When a technology where capabilities evolve exponentially with linear time, creating moats around battery storage technologies of today would stifle innovation.

The solar energy generators may or may not be compensated for such additional generation
Sunil Rathi, Director, Waaree Energies

Usage of batteries will benefit the advancement of renewable sources of electricity production
Siddharth Gangal,CEO, The Solar Labs