India’s energy landscape is transforming with battery energy storage systems

The Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) addresses the limitations of renewable energy sources by providing a continuous power supply that caters to peak-time power demand and power supply around the clock.

Today, globally, businesses and industries are moving towards renewable energy to reduce emissions, lower energy costs, and improve eco-friendliness. India has also set a target to reduce the carbon intensity of the nation’s economy by less than 45 percent by the end of the decade, achieve 50 percent cumulative electric power installed by 2030 from renewables, and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.

Now the question comes: why renewable energy only? The reason is that renewable energy is energy derived from natural sources (sunlight and wind) and can be replenished repeatedly with no carbon emissions, and we can’t run out of it by consuming it. On the contrary, by burning fossil fuels like oil and coal, their resources constantly decrease and will deplete in years to come.

It is typical for good ideas to come with drawbacks, and this applies to renewable energy sources as well. Renewable energy sources rely heavily on weather conditions and are not constantly available, despite being natural resources. Utilising these energies requires a significant amount of space, posing challenges for renewable energy sites worldwide. Additionally, solar power only generates electricity during the daytime, which poses an issue for industries requiring a 24/7 power supply.

To cater to all of the above limitations, the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) ensures both peak-time power supply and round-the-clock power to help overcome the intermittent nature of renewable energy. A battery energy storage system works around the clock and therefore compensates for any fluctuations in solar energy supply by storing any excess power in the system and providing emergency backup in the event of a power outage, guaranteeing business continuity.

Today, India is the world’s third-largest producer of renewable energy, with 40 percent of its installed electricity capacity coming from non-fossil fuel sources. India needs to work more on the development and scaling of BESS and provide emergency backup in the event of a power outage, guaranteeing business continuity. The government is also taking measures in the same direction.

As per the recent budget, “green growth” has been identified as one of the seven priorities, with a series of measures to further India’s ‘Panchamrit’ vision and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. To achieve this, the government announced battery energy storage systems (BESS) with a capacity of 4,000 MWH to be supported with viability gap funding.

To meet this, most companies have taken the lead and introduced battery energy storage systems (BESS) in response to the requirement for carbon-free power, with customised offerings ranging from 3 kW to MW.

Jakson’s BESS is a state-of-the-art modular power backup system that enables continuity of power during disruptions and significantly reduces the power bill. It combines the use of grid power, solar, and DG (optional) and is scalable to any type of battery and any new energy platform. Its modular construction makes it easy to transport and install, while it is a fast-charge capability and low system energy consumption make it practical and user-friendly.

BESS is equipped with a hybrid inverter, lithium-ion batteries, and a smart energy management system that can deliver value-added services like backup power, load levelling, peak shaving, TOD charging and discharging, demand charge reduction, grid export, islanding of the system.

Battery life varies from 3000 to 4000 cycles, with a life span of 10 to 12 years, making it a viable solution with zero maintenance cost. Best suited for all applications like residential, ATMs, banks, cold storage, warehouses, construction sites, remote villages, defence, etc. Batteries can be charged with any available source, like a grid, DG, or solar, in approx. 2 hours.