UN Climate Chief Highlights India’s Green Energy Grid And Battery Storage Benefits
The scheme aims to strengthen renewable energy integration and grid flexibility.
The Green Energy Corridor Phase-III (GEC-III) scheme will help India expand its renewable energy capacity while strengthening the power grid and supporting energy security, UN climate chief Simon Stiell said on Thursday. The Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) described the initiative as a significant step that could generate economic benefits while helping India integrate more renewable electricity into its power system.
The Centre approved the GEC-III scheme on Wednesday, with the programme aimed at developing an intra-state transmission network supported by battery energy storage systems. The infrastructure will facilitate the evacuation of 135 GW of renewable energy and help address curtailment, a situation in which renewable power generation is reduced to maintain grid stability. The initiative is intended to strengthen the network as India's renewable energy capacity continues to expand.
Stiell said stronger electricity grids and battery storage could help India make greater use of its renewable energy resources and meet growing power demand. He also pointed to potential economic opportunities from the expansion of clean-energy infrastructure, including employment in manufacturing, construction and energy storage. According to the UN climate chief, battery storage can provide major economies with an avenue to improve energy security while supporting economic growth.
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The GEC-III scheme has a total estimated project outlay of Rs 1.86 lakh crore. Of this, Rs 1.36 lakh crore has been earmarked for developing the intra-state transmission system, while Rs 50,000 crore will be used for 50 GWh of battery energy storage systems. The Centre will provide financial assistance of Rs 54,082 crore, which is intended to offset intra-state transmission charges and help contain the cost of electricity.
The scheme also sets out different implementation models for new infrastructure and upgrades to existing networks. Greenfield projects under the intra-state transmission component will be developed through Tariff Based Competitive Bidding, while brownfield upgrades and network-strengthening works will follow a Cost Plus Basis. State Transmission Utilities will serve as the overall implementing agencies, with Transmission Service Providers participating in competitively bid projects under a Build-Own-Operate-Maintain model.
The expansion of transmission infrastructure and battery storage is expected to become increasingly important as India adds more solar and other renewable generation capacity. By providing additional grid capacity and storage, the GEC-III programme is designed to improve the system's ability to absorb renewable electricity and reduce instances of renewable power being curtailed. The initiative forms part of India's broader effort to expand clean-energy infrastructure while meeting rising electricity demand.
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