India Increases Battery Storage to Stop Solar Power Loss

The Government of India is increasing investments in battery storage to address a growing crisis of solar power curtailments. Renewables Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi reported that the national grid is currently unable to absorb excess daytime generation, leading to significant energy waste during peak production periods.

Between April and June, the transmission system failed to absorb over 8 billion kilowatt-hours of power, resulting in the loss of 11% of solar power generated during the hottest months. This supply glut is exacerbated by grid network deficits in northern and western regions, where 21 gigawatts of renewable projects possess only part-time grid access.

Approximately 42 gigawatts of planned capacity have yet to sign offtake contracts. Sarangi stated that solar projects without battery storage are unlikely to find buyers, as developers must integrate storage solutions to provide the consistent daily supplies required by the market.