Innovations in Energy storage will encourage RE penetration

By EPR Magazine Editorial November 30, 2022 3:10 pm

Regarding the increasing renewable energy penetration, Rajib Chattopadhyay emphasises the need to focus on developing energy storage systems to match the required quality in power distribution.
ERDA operates in three business verticals: testing and evaluation, field services, R & D, and expert services, along with the testing of electrical and mechanical products. “We have accreditation for 154 Indian standards for testing. We perform third party inspections, energy audits, power systems studies, and field diagnostics in the field services. Under R & D, we have five technology missions, including advanced materials, renewable diagnostics, technology product development, and power systems. Also, we provide expert services for these technologies.” says Mr. Rajib.
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How do you appraise the domestic manufacturing status of power equipment in India?
The domestic market, or the utility market, is improving by focusing more on quality. If the Indian manufacturers are willing to approach the international business market, they should be inclined more towards quality. So, there is a paradigm shift in the industry with people prioritising quality.
Do you think we require a better standard of regulations to ensure Electrical & Power safety?
I believe safety is still not a primary concern in India. However, safety is the highest priority for electrical devices internationally. The Bureau of Indian Regulations (BIS) is also getting knowledgeable and is attempting to introduce different electrical safety standards. But we still have a long way to go. There is still room for improvement in India’s safety regulations.
How are IEC standards suitable for the Indian context?
The Bureau of Indian Norms largely follows IEC standards but adapts them to Indian circumstances, weather, and usage, among other things. According to IC standards, the BIS is revising its product standards to align them with worldwide standards. But for the safety standards, they have not yet started taking that much action.

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What are the ways to educate contractors about safety practices?
Authorities, such as BIS should hold regular workshops to create awareness about safety practices and procedures that will help immensely. There are plenty of codes, protocols, and standards in this industry; the problem is that people aren’t aware of them. Failure to adhere to such criteria might have disastrous effects. Furthermore, these requirements should be stressed by monitoring them. Contractors and electricians should be aware of the standards and advantages of safe installations.
How do you see the composition of future power sources for India’s power sector?
India has done well in terms of renewable energy. We must remember that renewable energy is not accessible around the clock and requires a supplementary power source. As a result, those fossil fuels will continue to exist. When we include energy storage, we will see an increase in RE penetration.
Only then can we consider lowering our carbon impact. Otherwise, you’ll have to keep and maintain an equal number of low-PLF thermal power plants as backup power for night operations. Renewable energy has a built-in difficulty with this. Wind energy is only available for three to four months each year. Solar electricity is only accessible during the day; hydroelectric power takes a long time to produce due to the multiple environmental elements. As a result, we must develop a comprehensive strategy incorporating all types of businesses to achieve total grid power stability. I hope energy storage will soon be a viable option to reduce carbon emissions.
Moreover, globally, many developmental activities are happening to increase energy storage. ERDA is also into the R&D of storage batteries and has a complete set-up for energy storage batteries. We are also ready to support the manufacturers in this area and are consistently progressing in developing various energy storage.
Our testing facilities are sufficient enough for the current domestic market?
The testing facility is adequate for the current workload. But as public awareness and quality consistency grow, more testing is required. Furthermore, more laboratories are needed to prevent testing delays and maintain pricing competitiveness.

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