South Asia's largest Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) inaugurated at Delhi | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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South Asia's largest Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) inaugurated at Delhi

Posted 30 May 2025

2 min read

The 20-MW (40 MWh) BESS installed at the BRPL (BSES Rajdhani Power Limited) substation  is also India’s “first commercially approved” utility-scale energy storage system .

  • It leverages advanced Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) technology known for superior safety, thermal stability and durability.
  • In Lithium–iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, cathode is made of lithium metal phosphate instead of lithium metal oxide.

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

  • About: Electrochemical Energy Storage Systems that stores electrical energy from renewables in the form of chemical energy to be used during peak demand. 
  • Significance: Cater to Future needs (236 GWh BESS would be required by 2031-32 as per National Electricity Plan, 2023); smooth renewable energy fluctuations, etc. 
  • Two Main Categories
    • Traditional Solid Rechargeable Batteries: Stores Energy in solid metal electrodes, Examples:
      • Lead Acid Batteries (Anode- lead, Cathode- Lead dioxide)
      • Lithium Ion Batteries [Anode- Graphite, Cathode- Lithium Oxide (LiMO2; M=Co, Ni)]
      • Zinc Air Batteries (Anode- Zinc, Cathode- Air/Oxygen). 
      • Sodium Sulphur (NaS) (Anode- Sodium, Cathode- Sulfur). 
    • Flow batteries: Energy is stored in flowing liquid electrolytes kept in tanks separately. Example, vanadium redox flow batteries, zinc-iron flow batteries, zinc-bromine batteries, etc. 

Other Initiatives taken

  • Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme to support 13,200 MWh BESS. 
  • National Framework for the Promotion of Energy Storage Systems 2023. 
  • Waiver of Inter State Transmission System Charges on BESS Projects commissioned up to 30.06.2025 for 12 years. 
  • Tags :
  • Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
  • Lead Acid Batteries
  • Lithium Ion Batteries
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