India: Energy Storage Tech Scope Widens with 100MWh Flow Battery, 100GW Pumped Hydro and Grid-Forming BESS Prospects

Why It Matters

Diversifying storage technologies reduces reliance on lithium‑ion batteries, enhances grid stability, and accelerates India’s 2030 renewable‑capacity targets and long‑term decarbonisation roadmap.

Key Takeaways

• NTPC seeks 100 MWh vanadium flow battery, 5.9‑hour duration
• 100 GW pumped hydro target set for 2035‑36
• Storage need projected 62 GW by 2030, 476 GW by 2047
• Grid‑forming inverter capacity data requested by CEA
• Customs duty exemption expands domestic Li‑ion BESS component production

Pulse Analysis

India’s energy‑storage landscape is undergoing a decisive shift as NTPC Renewable Energy pursues a 100 MWh vanadium redox flow battery for its Gujarat hybrid park. Unlike lithium‑ion cells, VRFBs store energy in liquid electrolytes, allowing capacity to be scaled simply by enlarging tanks. This modularity promises lower cost per hour of storage, making long‑duration applications—such as smoothing solar output—more economical. By integrating the VRFB with a 5 GW solar complex, NTPC is testing a model that could be replicated across the country’s expanding renewable portfolio, reinforcing the government’s narrative that lithium‑ion is not the sole solution for grid‑scale storage.

The Central Electricity Authority’s newly published roadmap underscores pumped hydro’s pivotal role in India’s storage mix, aiming for 100 GW of pumped hydro by 2035‑36. Pumped hydro offers multi‑hour to multi‑day discharge capabilities with proven efficiency, complementing emerging technologies like VRFBs and the CO₂ Battery from Energy Dome, which mimics hydro’s operational profile without geographic constraints. Projections of 62 GW of storage by 2030 and nearly 500 GW by 2047 reflect the scale of infrastructure required to balance the target of 500 GW non‑fossil generation by 2030, positioning pumped hydro as a cornerstone of long‑duration energy storage.

Parallel to hardware development, the CEA’s request for grid‑forming inverter capacity data highlights the software side of grid reliability. Grid‑forming inverters can provide inertia and voltage support traditionally supplied by spinning turbines, a capability increasingly demanded as renewable penetration rises. Coupled with a customs‑duty exemption for lithium‑ion battery components, these policies aim to boost domestic manufacturing, lower costs, and accelerate deployment of both battery‑based and hydro‑based storage solutions. Collectively, these initiatives create a diversified, resilient storage ecosystem that is essential for India’s ambitious renewable‑energy and net‑zero objectives.