Energy storage need of the hour: Modi

With increased focus on renewable energy, India has now turned its attention to developing grid-connected power storage.

Inaugurating the first assembly of International Solar Alliance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India has embarked on the National Energy Storage Mission with focus on boosting indigenous manufacturing of power storage facilities.

“Under this mission, the government is focusing on demand creation, indigenous manufacturing, innovation and energy storage,” Modi said while addressing representatives of 40 nations in the presence of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres here.

The same event also marked the inauguration of the second IORA Renewable Energy Ministerial Meeting, and the 2nd Global RE-Invest (Renewable Energy Investors’ Meet and Expo).

Modi said the International Solar Alliance could replace OPEC as the key global energy supplier in the future.

Speaking at the event, Guterres said the world still lacked political commitments to drive the adoption of clean energy.

“Climate change is running faster than we are. If we do not change course by 2020, we may lose the opportunity altogether,” Guterres said.

The ISA was conceptualised by India and France at the climate change conference – COP21 – in Paris in 2015.

Modi said effect of increased use of renewable energy was now visible in India which has set the target to generate 40 % of its total energy requirements in 2030, by non-fossil fuel based sources.

He said efforts were being made to make India's transport system clean fuel based.