India’s Power Grid Needs Batteries to Meet Its Renewables Promise
To achieve climate goals, the nation needs to fix a missing clean-energy link — with a dramatic expansion in storage.
Workers tend the land as turbines operate at the Ostro Energy Pvt. Lahori Wind Farm in Madhya Pradesh, India.
Photographer: Dhiraj Singh/BloombergWelcome to Energy Daily, our guide to the energy and commodities markets powering the global economy. Today, reporter Rajesh Kumar Singh takes a look at the missing link in India’s clean-power revolution. For a look at how Greece uses drones to deal with wildfires, read this. To get this newsletter sent to your inbox, sign up here.
From rooftop solar panels to vast farms, India’s renewable-energy revolution has far outpaced early expectations, adding more than 100 gigawatts in the last decade. It has not, however, cleaned up a power system that still relies on coal for three-quarters of electricity generation.
The main headache here is not unique to India. Solar and wind power are intermittent, and the grid needs to be reliable. Large industrial players must keep machines whirring even when the sun isn’t shining.