GRID STABILITY AND ENERGY STORAGE

The Ministry of Power’s press release outlines the projected need for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and Pumped Storage Plants (PSP) to support grid stability. By 2026‑27, 8.68 GW (34 GWh) of BESS and 7.45 GW (47 GWh) of PSP are required, rising to 47.24 GW (236 GWh) and 26.69 GW (175 GWh) respectively by 2031‑32, with total investments of about Rs 3.49 lakh crore for BESS and Rs 1.29 lakh crore for PSP. The release lists a series of policy, regulatory and financial measures—including amendments to Electricity Rules (2022, 2025), inclusion in the Harmonised Master List (Oct 2022), guidelines for resource adequacy (June 2023), a National Framework (Sept 2023), ISTS charge waivers, CERC ancillary‑service approvals, Viability Gap Funding, and a Rs 18,100 crore Production‑Linked Incentive for advanced‑chemistry cell manufacturing—aimed at promoting ESS deployment and manufacturing.