India experienced the hottest heat waves in 122 years in April 2022, and there was no relief in May either. Electricity demand is at an all-time high as homes, businesses, and other structures use air conditioning to cool down during the nation's severe heat wave. The massive expansion of the economy is a sign of the recovery that has taken place since the pandemic. On April 26, the Ministry of Power reported that the total amount of power required to satisfy India's entire demand reached an all-time high of 201.06 gigawatts (GW), exceeding the previous year's total requirement. During May and June, it anticipates that this demand will reach 215-220 GW. As a result, the country's demand for electricity increased by 23.5% in May.

Power outages are already commonplace in the statistics, though, as India struggles with a coal shortage in the face of rising energy demand. For instance, in April, India saw its worst power outages in more than six years. Due to a decreased pre-monsoon coal stock at power plants, the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) anticipates another power crisis in July–August 2022. The Union Government has therefore instructed States to import coal.

Since this is a quick way to fix the problem that eventually leads to carbon emissions, the country needs to focus on more long-term eco-friendly methods to control the power crises in the future. Let’s understand in this article why ESS which is Energy Storage System is a simple and direct solution to this problem, as well as what obstacles the nation would face in creating an ESS setting.

Is ESS a better system?

An energy storage system (ESS) is a machine or group of machines that convert electrical energy from power systems into energy storage and then releases that energy when it is required, as the name suggests. One of its advantages is its capacity for cost reduction. By 2050, innovations like battery storage systems, for example, could, according to the British government, save the country's energy system up to £40 billion and ultimately reduce energy costs for consumers.

An ESS ecosystem that is reliant on clean energy is a step in the right direction as India strives to meet 50 percent of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2030 and eventually become a net zero economy. In addition, the research company BloombergNEF (BNEF) estimates that by 2040, India may surpass the United States as the third-largest economy in terms of energy storage installations. By 2030, India would require 27 GW of battery storage, including 10 GW of hydro-pumped storage plants with a four-hour storage capacity, according to the Central Electricity Authority.

Given the rapid expansion of the economy and infrastructure, this presents a huge opportunity for battery manufacturers in India. This will not only make India a hub for research and development, but it will also reduce carbon emissions, solve the annual power problem, save money, and promote local production, entrepreneurial spirit, and investment in India.