Karnataka plans storage systems for efficient use of renewable energy

Karnataka is a power surplus state, however, the inability to store Renewable Energy (RE) has forced it to purchase power at a higher cost, especially during summer.

To address this concern and to ensure better use of the RE produced in the state, the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) has planned a number of solar power projects which are integrated with the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).

For instance, in 2024-25, the energy department purchased close to 3,149 MU of power at a cost of Rs 2,250 crore. With the implementation of the storage systems, such expenses can be brought down drastically.

Though the KREDL had run a small pilot project at Pavagada in 2024, no large scale projects were taken up. Now, the KREDL is all set to facilitate the state’s first solar power project with the BESS. The KREDL has planned two projects – 100 MW/100 MWh BESS project at Kalaburagi and 250 MW/ 1100 MWh BESS project at Pavagada.

While tenders for the Kalaburagi project are finalised, the KREDL has called tenders for the project at Pavagada. One of these projects will become the state’s first solar power project integrated with the BESS, the officials said. 

“During summer, load in the evening hours is also high. However, owing to a lack of storage systems, we could not store the solar power produced during the morning hours and hence were forced to purchase power when the demand was high,” a senior official from the Energy department said. 

With the new BESS integrated projects, the department can use renewable energy in a flexible manner.

“Now, the energy produced at the particular solar power plant will be stored for nearly four hours and we can use it during the evening hours to meet the demand then. This allows us to make economical use of Renewable Energy,” a senior KREDL official said.

The advancement in energy storage technologies coupled with the downward trend of energy storage costs, also prompted the move, the official added.

This way, eventually Discoms could be supplied with 100% renewable energy, the officials said.