Global Progress in 'Green' transition: India

Energy storage solutions, whether applied to the power grid or EVs, make systems more flexible and are suitable for meeting low cost, low carbon electricity demands. Following is a glimpse into the energy scenario, energy storage development and, and e-mobility movement around the world, put together by Team ETN.*

INDIA

The government push for battery cell manufacturing in India on a larger scale had begun a while ago, but the proverbial ball started rolling with the introduction of the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for Advanced Chemistry Cells (ACC) and electric vehicles. This year's budget furthered the aspirations by announcing allocations for the growth of RE, grid integration, e-mobility and charging, among other things. This has brought to fore the important role energy storage will play in the immediate future.

Energy Storage

The PLI schemes intended to promote local manufacturing of battery cells and auto components, are considered a concrete step towards achieving self-reliance, with an objective to achieve manufacturing capacity of 50GWh of ACC and 5GWh of 'niche' ACC, with an outlay of ₹18,000 crore; and to enhance manufacturing capabilities of Advanced Automotive Products (ATT), with an outlay of ₹25,938 crore.

On the 10 bids received by the government this year, the three companies selected are: Rajesh Exports, Ola Electric and Reliance New Energy Solar. Five more bidding companies - Mahindra & Mahindra, Exide Industries, Larsen & Toubro, Amara Raja Batteries and India Power Corporation - have been waitlisted.

Current progress in the Indian battery manufacturing scenario:

- In the past few months, Reliance New Energy has acquired two companies: Faradion that works on sodium-ion battery tech, and Lithium Werks that makes lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. Awarded PLI for 5GWh with a further 15GWh on the waitlist, the company was also a winning bidder for solar module and cell manufacturing.

- Following its announcement to transfer its lithium-ion cell technology to the Indian industry on a non-exclusive basis for use in automobiles, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed an MoU with BHEL, Amara Raja Batteries, and Tata Chemicals for technology transfer and training to help the companies manufacture lithium-ion batteries for EVs in India.

- Amara Raja recently invested around ₹200 million in its Tirupati plant to initiate lithium-ion battery production.

- Exide is stepping into the Li-ion production through its subsidiary company - Exide Leclanche Energy, and is expected to start a production unit by the end of the year.

- Maruti Suzuki is planning to get into Li-ion battery manufacturing through a new joint venture with Toshiba and Denso.

- Early this year, Log9 Materials launched its cell production unit in Bengaluru. It is claimed to be India's first indigenous cell manufacturing line and the largest in Southeast Asia.

India's Central Electricity Authority has modelled a need for 27GW/108GWh of battery storage by 2030 to meet national goals of adding 500GW of renewable energy capacity from solar and wind, while battery storage could be an export opportunity as well.

The government of India has set a target of achieving 450GW of renewable energy by the year 2030 - India's Central Electricity Authority has modelled a need for 27GW/108GWh of battery storage by 2030 to meet national goals of adding 500GW of renewable energy capacity from solar and wind, while battery storage could be an export opportunity as well.

Some notable developments in the BESS segment include:

- Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has awarded a contract for setting up a 100 MW (AC) solar with 40 MW/120 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd. The project, to be set up at Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, would be one of the largest grid-connected BESS projects in the country.

- SECI has awarded another BESS project to TPS, to be built at the Phyang village in Ladakh. The battery storage equipment for the BESS - of up to 60.56 MWh capacity, will be supplied by the ES division of Sungrow. The project is stated to include a 20MW solar PV plant, which will be effectively work as a 50MWac energy resource for the region with the integration of the BESS of RE in the grid necessitates energy storage systems for grid balancing. Further, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has indicated that it is considering all future renewable tenders with inclusion of energy storage.

Some notable developments in the BESS segment include:

E-mobility

India's electric vehicle (EV) market that was kick starting till a few years ago, is now showing signs of revving up and raring to go. As per recent media reports, the EV industry is growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of an astounding 90 percent this decade, with 2030 projections marked at $150 billion.

The Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles estimates that the total sales of EVs, this year alone, might get to around 10 lakh units. While demand for EVs has taken a leap, the fate of India's EV aspirations depends majorly on its battery capacity, which looks promising after the recent developments in battery manufacturing.

A look at EV launches in India:

More than 20 electric cars are expected to find their way into the Indian market in the next two years.

- Tata Motors currently leads the EV sales in the passenger segment with the Tata Nexon EV and the Tigor EV. The company is planning to launch three more EVs - Tiago EV, Sierra, and Altroz.

- Hyundai was one of the first to launch an EV with Kona. It has plans to relaunch the Kona EV with a facelift later this year. Another EV in the offing is the Ioniq 5 EV.

- Mahindra is planning to launch the eXUV300, early next year.

- VW-owned Skoda has plans to launch the Enyaq iV in India around the first half of 2023. It is the carmaker's first electric SUV.

- Volvo has announced the launch of its XC40 Recharge this year, and will be built in India.

- Mercedes-Benz currently offers the EQC in India, and has two launches planned, the EQS and the EQA, in the coming months. Also planned is the launch of the EQS SUV, around the second quarter of 2023. All three models will be built/assembled in India by the carmaker.

- BMW has plans to launch the i7, and currently sells the i4 electric sedan in India. Along with the other EVs it will also launch the iX1 sometime early 2023.

Hydrogen

This year, India's ambitions to be a global hub for green hydrogen production and export seem to have got an impetus through the recently announced National Hydrogen Mission. This announcement was made by Prime Minister Modi, when he unveiled the 25-year roadmap for hydrogen development during his address on India's 75th Independence Day. The purpose of the Mission is to meet the larger goal of self-reliance in energy production by 2047.

India's biggest businesses are showing their interest in tapping green hydrogen as a future fuel.

- Reliance industries plans to invest in setting up a giga factory to make electrolyzers. Has tied up with Stiesdal AS, a climate change tech company from Denmark.

- JSW Future Energy to produce green hydrogen for use in industries and other applications. Has tied up with Australian Fortescue Future Industries.

- Bharat Petroleum Corp (BPCL) plans to set up 20 MW electrolyzer at Bina refinery in Madhya Pradesh. Has tied up with BARC to enhance alkaline electrolyzer technology for green hydrogen production.

- Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL) is setting up a 370 MT pilot plant at its Vizag refinery to produce green hydrogen.

- GAIL (India) is building one of India's largest proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers in Guna, Madhya Pradesh, by the end of 2023.

- Indian Oil Corp (IOC) is putting up green hydrogen plants in Mathura – 40 MWh and Panipat – 15 MWh. Has joined hands with L&T and ReNew to set up the plants.

- Oil India Ltd plans to set up a 100 KWgreen hydrogen plant at its pumping station in Jorhat, Assam.

- Adani Group plans to invest ~$70 billion in green business, and almost half of it in producing green hydrogen.

- L&T along with ReNew Power will develop and operate green hydrogen projects in India. It has also tied up with HydrogenPro of Norway to make Alkaline water electrolyzers.

- Greenko has joined hands with Belgian company John Cockerill to make electrolyzers in India.

* This story is part of an exclusive ETN series tracing latest developments in green energy sectors across different global regions. For other articles in the series, use the following thread '2022 Global Progress in 'Green' transition.