India’s Green Energy Push: 6 GW Tender Announced

As part of big push toward renewable energy, India has issued 6 GW of renewable energy projects with inbuilt storage systems for steady power supply during peak hours of the day. The project is managed by state-owned hydropower company SJVN in an effort to fortify India’s electricity grid and ensure the availability of reliable energy across state lines through the interstate transmission system, or ISTS.

Part of India’s broad commitment to decarbonize the power sector, it aspires to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. The tender called currently forms part of the plan to add 35 GW of solar and wind capacities to the national grid by March 2025. Linked to the government’s long-term energy transition plan, this tender is expected to quicken the transition to sustainable energy, reduce dependence on fossil fuel sources, and enhance the general resilience of the country’s national power supply.

Expanding Renewable Energy in India
The India renewable energy sector has exponentially gained within the past ten years. In fact, according to industry analytics firm Global Data, wind and solar power scaled higher in 2023 as well. Wind energy fueled 83.39 TWh of electricity to the grid in 2023 against 71.82 TWh in the previous year. Similarly, production in solar energy increased from 102.02 TWh in the previous year to 115.97 TWh in 2023. The trend is bound to show a high end for renewables in India’s overall energy mix.

India added 10 GW of renewable energy capacity from April to August 2024, bringing the total installed renewable capacity to 153 GW. That number is poised to serve as a key milestone in India’s ongoing effort to attain cleaner energy usage, however still constituting just 21.6% of the country’s electricity generation. The energy system also needs to be more reliable and sustainable while keeping its carbon footprint at a minimum level with deeper penetration of renewable sources into the energy mix.

Storage Solutions to Ensure Grid Stability
Other features of this tender involve the incorporation of storage provision. Storage systems of energy are essential in enabling the users to store renewable power produced in cases when there is low demand and supply during peak hours when it is most demanded by the users. This will stabilize the electricity supply while at the same time remedy the nature of renewable energy, especially solar and wind, which relies on weather conditions.

Through combing renewable generation with the storage technology, India will develop a highly robust and flexible energy infrastructure that dynamically responds to variations in demand and supply of power. This is what will be important in providing assurance on the reliability of the grid especially because the country is beginning to rely on renewable energy.

State/Interstate Power Distribution
The other significant feature of the tender is the provision made for power supply through interstate transmission system (ISTS). ISTS is pivotal in helping to pass electricity from places where power is moderately produced to areas with high demand, so that there is a national grid that is balanced and efficient. This initiative is going to ensure energy security across India by improving the distribution and power chain and avoiding bottle-necks.

This tender is likely to be a huge fillip not only for the national grid but also for regional economies-those in a position to produce at full capacity in states that might have enormous solar and wind energy. This tender will bridge the gap between energy-rich and energy-deficient regions and further energize the economic development of the nation.

India’s Road to Energy Transition
India’s renewable energy capacity has marched steadily over the past few years, but much remains to be achieved toward ambitious targets. Installed Renewable Energy capacity now stands at 153 GW, a remarkable development but still minuscule compared with the government’s ultimate goal of adding 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030.

Apart from raising the renewable generation capacity, the government is also undertaking several other moves to modernize the country’s electricity grid by integrating advanced technologies such as smart grids and energy storage within it and improving power distribution within the country. This effort forms a part of India’s holistic approach towards ensuring energy security, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and furthering economic growth.

This tender is a momentous step in a journey, as it would express commitment by the government towards scaling up investments in renewable energy and integration of these with innovative technologies. Success in this tender would prove to be an important factor for India as it moves further on its path toward decarbonization goals.

Conclusion

This 6 GW tender for renewable energy projects with storage in India forms a critical part of efforts to accelerate the shift of the nation away from dirty fuels. As India looks towards installing more renewable energy-generating capacity and lesser fossil fuel, this initiative will form the key to supply firm and secure electricity during peak hours. India is moving toward a more robust, sustainable, and resilient energy system that can serve its increasingly fast-growing population and economy through a step forward toward more efficient energy storage and better interstate power distribution.
Source: Global Data

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