SWREL Secures India’s Largest BESS Project in Rajasthan

Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy Limited (SWREL) has achieved a significant milestone by securing India’s largest Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project. The company has been awarded a prestigious Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract for a 500 x 2 (1,000 MWhr) standalone BESS plant in Rajasthan.

Contract Details: 

• Material and Scope: The project involves the design, procurement, erection, testing, and commissioning of the BESS plant. This state-of-the-art facility will be the largest of its kind in India and one of the few in the world with such a large scale at a single location.
• Completion Date: The project is set to be completed by 2025.

The BESS plant will play a crucial role in India’s growing energy storage market, which is expected to expand significantly in the coming years. Currently, India’s total installed BESS capacity stands at about 219 MWhr. According to the National Electricity Plan (NEP) 2023, the energy storage capacity requirement is projected to reach 82.37 GWh by 2026-27. This project will position SWREL at the forefront of this expanding sector.

In addition to the BESS project, SWREL has also secured a 20 MW floating solar project in Karnataka. This project marks the third floating solar initiative the company is executing in India, further strengthening its position in the renewable energy sector. Total Contract Value for both projects Approximately Rs 328 crore, which includes operation and maintenance (O&M) and taxes.

Mr. Amit Jain, Global CEO of Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy Group, expressed his enthusiasm for the contract, stating, “As we have seen during the course of last 12 to 18 months, there have been multiple tenders, bids, and projects for either standalone Storage or Hybrid (Renewable + Storage) in India, making it a very important step for us as a Company and for the nation to move towards firm dispatchable renewable power.

We are proud to be chosen as the preferred EPC partner in this prestigious project, which would be a significant milestone not only in our Company portfolio but also for our Country on the whole. This win depicts our in-house capabilities and knowledge of Energy Storage plus Engineering and Execution and places us with a large advantage in the Solar and Storage Market which is likely to grow tremendously in the near future.”

Source: Here 

Role of BESS in National Electricity Plan 2023

The National Electricity Plan (NEP) 2023 outlines key objectives for integrating Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) into India's power grid. Here are the main points regarding BESS in the plan:

1. Target Setting: The NEP suggests setting a firm target for BESS based on current needs and future requirements. This includes adjusting targets according to actual power generation and demand.
2. Data and Breakdowns: The plan needs to provide specific details on the installed and planned BESS projects, including their regional distribution and application areas. Currently, the NEP does not include this data.
3. Deployment and Timelines: The NEP does not detail the deployment of BESS by region or year, which makes it unclear when and where these systems will be implemented.
4. Storage Duration: The NEP specifies a cumulative BESS capacity of 51,555 MW with 5 hours of storage, but acknowledges that different applications may require varying storage durations.
5. Capacity Consideration: BESS is not included in the total installed capacity target for 2032 because it is not a generation source but a storage solution.
6. Reserve Margin: The NEP recommends maintaining a reserve margin of 15% by 2025 and 20% by 2030 to ensure grid reliability.
7. Power Quality Monitoring: The plan does not address creating benchmarks or monitoring for power quality, which is seen as essential for improving grid performance.
8. Grid Stability: It is suggested that directives might be issued for technical measures to ensure grid stability, though this is beyond the NEP's current scope.
9. Renewable Integration: Combining renewables with BESS can provide reliable and dispatchable power. The NEP supports the implementation of storage solutions to achieve this goal.
10. Operational Concerns: Issues like monitoring power quality and ensuring energy reserves for critical areas are considered important but are beyond the NEP’s direct focus.

Overall, while the NEP 2023 highlights the importance of BESS, more detailed planning and data are needed to fully integrate these systems into India’s energy strategy.

Full NEP 2023 Report  Here 

Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy

Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy Limited (SWREL) is a leading global provider of renewable energy solutions. Specializing in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC), SWREL offers services for large-scale solar, floating solar, and energy storage projects.

With a total portfolio of over 19.4 GWp and an O&M portfolio of 8.2 GWp, the company operates in 28 countries across continents, including India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Australia, and the Americas.