GUVNL to set up 3 battery energy storage sites

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) is set to launch three projects to set up battery energy storage systems (BESS).
These are aimed at supplying electricity on an ‘on-demand’ basis to distribution companies (DISCOMs) during peak and off-peak hours, thus extending the availability of renewable energy beyond solar hours. The proposed BESS locations for Phase II and Phase III include three 400kV substations — at Bhachunda village of Abdasa taluka in Kutch, Sanand near Ahmedabad and Amreli.
Such a grid-connected system at a GETCO substation will be classified as a transmission system. Sources said Gujarat is the pioneer in this type of initiative.
The BESS will be charged by power from GETCO’s grid network, following instructions from the state load despatch centre. “For two such projects, letters of intent for 750MW/1,500MWh have been awarded to two companies — Gensol and IndiGrid. The first award has also been approved by Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission, after which GUVNL signed a power purchase agreement for a 250MW/500MWh BESS project,” said Jai Prakash Shivahare, MD, GUVNL. “Battery storage systems are the needed to meet India’s renewable energy targets. Gujarat has always taken the lead when it comes to RE capacity and this will help store and supply surplus RE as and when required,” Shivahare added. Recently, Gensol Engineering bagged a 250 MW tender. Meanwhile, a third is in the pipeline for a 250MW project. The tenders are issued following tariff-based competitive bidding.