The Central Electricity Authority (CEA), under the Ministry of Power, Government of India, organized the second phase of its regional National Workshop on “Renewable Energy Integration through Energy Storage Systems” on April 30, 2026, in Mumbai. The event was hosted by the Western Regional Power Committee (WRPC) and brought together more than 500 participants, including government officials, power sector experts, industry leaders, private companies, and academic representatives from various Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). The workshop served as a platform to discuss the growing importance of energy storage systems in supporting India’s renewable energy targets and ensuring a stable power grid.
The event began with a welcome address by CEA Chairperson Ghanshyam Prasad, who highlighted the importance of energy storage in maintaining grid stability while increasing the share of renewable energy in the country’s electricity mix. He stressed that battery energy storage systems (BESS) will play a major role in supporting India’s clean energy transition. Other senior officials, including Deepak Kumar, Member Secretary of WRPC, and Sunil Sharma, Director at the Ministry of Power, also addressed the gathering and emphasized the need for cooperation among government agencies, utilities, industry, and research institutions.
The workshop included three technical sessions covering policy, project implementation, and emerging technologies. During the first session, CEA officials presented the newly introduced 2026 Safety Regulations for Battery Energy Storage Systems. The presentation focused on important safety measures such as thermal management, hazard detection, fire suppression systems, and battery monitoring. Officials also discussed upcoming construction standards for BESS projects and explained different commercial applications of energy storage. A case study of the operational 20 MW/40 MWh battery energy storage plant at Kilokari in New Delhi was presented to demonstrate the practical implementation of these technologies.
The second session focused on lessons learned from ongoing energy storage projects across the country. Representatives from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) shared details of their 750 MW standalone battery energy storage project, which has been planned to manage peak electricity demand. Other organizations, including Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited (GSECL), Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL), and Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), presented their experiences from solar-plus-storage projects. The discussions covered project design, operational challenges, system performance, and the use of detailed battery cell-level data analytics to improve efficiency and reliability.
The final technical session highlighted new technologies and innovative solutions being developed for the energy sector. Industry experts introduced advanced grid-forming inverters designed to improve grid stability. Participants also learned about mobile energy storage concepts such as “Truck Storage” for commercial applications and the potential of Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries as an alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries. A joint presentation by the CEA and IIT Roorkee proposed replacing diesel generator sets in commercial and government buildings with rooftop solar systems combined with battery energy storage, offering a cleaner and more sustainable backup power solution.
The workshop concluded with remarks from the CEA Member (Planning), who summarized the key recommendations from the discussions. Stakeholders agreed that battery energy storage systems should be allowed to provide multiple services, including energy arbitrage, reactive power support, and congestion management, to improve project economics. Participants also emphasized the importance of strict safety standards, third-party safety audits, advanced battery management systems, and strong cybersecurity measures. Another major recommendation was to promote domestic manufacturing of batteries and power electronics to reduce dependence on imports. The workshop also encouraged wider adoption of rooftop solar and battery storage systems as replacements for diesel generators in commercial and public buildings. Overall, the event provided a clear roadmap for strengthening collaboration, improving technical standards, and accelerating the integration of renewable energy into India’s power system through advanced energy storage technologies.
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