NEWS – Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd. (KREDL) is setting up battery energy storage systems (BESS) to store solar energy. The goal is to improve solar energy utilization and sell the stored energy to electricity supply companies (escoms) and, eventually, in the open market.

HIGHLIGHTS

Pilot Project in Pavagada

• Location: Pavagada Solar Park, Tumakuru district.
• Capacity: 2 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant with a 2MW/4.5 MW/h battery storage system.
• Cost: ₹36 crore.
• Status: Major equipment delivered, civil work ongoing, expected commissioning next month.
• Tender: Awarded to Nsure Reliable Power Solutions Private Ltd. in 2023.

Solar BESS Functionality

• Solar Energy Generation: Generated during the daytime but required mostly in the evening.
• Storage System: 30-50% of daytime energy is stored in BESS and released into the grid when needed.
• Union Government Mandate: Renewable energy must be stored in battery or pumped storage systems.

Kalaburagi Project

• Scale: Larger than the Pavagada pilot project.
• Capacity: 100 MW solar PV plant with a 100/130 MW/h BESS.
• Estimated Cost: ₹500 crore.
• Status: Tender process underway.

Energy Sales

• Primary Sales: Stored energy will be sold to escoms as needed.
• Future Sales: Plans to sell energy in the open market at ₹1 or ₹2 per unit when solar energy demand reduces.

Ryapte Village Project

• Proposed Capacity: 250 MW solar plant with a 250 MW/500 MW/h BESS.
• Status: Tender for preparing a detailed project report (DPR) invited; final decision pending.

Karnataka’s Solar Capacity

• Current Capacity (August 2024):
  • Solar energy: 8,904.14 MW.
  • Solar-wind hybrid energy: 34.70 MW.