In a significant recognition to the energy storage as an essential infrastructure in India, the Union government of India has updated its 'Harmonized Master List of Infrastructure' to include Energy Storage Systems (ESS) in the Energy category.
In a recent gazette notification by the Department of Economic Affairs under Ministry of Finance, ESS has been added as a new infrastructure sub-sector in the energy category. Other sub-sectors in the category include electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and oil/ gas/ LNG storage facility.
Further, the announcement defines ESS as dense charging infrastructure and grid scale energy storage system with a minimum qualifying capacity of 200 MWh, given that the ESS is not being established on merchant basis.
The Harmonized Master List of Infrastructure acts as a guide to all agencies involved in the field of infrastructural development and financing in the country.
The list is updated by a committee, chaired by Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, consisting of chief economic adviser, representative from Niti Aayog, Department of Revenue, and other key government agencies.