Gurleen Kaur, Ph.D.

My India seminar series under the auspices of the India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF) continues with a focus on grid storage. Full transcript and slides & video: https://lnkd.in/g8-UwPVD Three things emerged. Recently I published a reaction to a reaction on battery swapping. It can work if the batteries can be hoisted by hand such as in 2- and 3-wheelers, and it can work on same vehicle, same service load, same location, big fleets such as cement trucks where $1.1 million automated swapping stations in depots can be supported. When supporting multiple classes or manufacturers of vehicles, it falls apart. Truck stops aren't going to see swapping, but will see battery buffering. Gogoro was trotted out, as it always as is, but it's a typical SPAC disaster, with a collapsed stock price, losing $70 million a year. Then there's NIO of course, which so far is apparently succeeding where Tesla failed years ago, but I suspect that's short-lived. More significantly, China's fleet operators are buying almost 50% of trucks with swap-capable configurations. Data on how many are swapping is unknown, but my expectation that only the ones that meet the conditions above are. The ISGF studied this years ago and convinced the government to require two- and three-wheelers to be sold without batteries. Now there are a bunch of non-standard swapping firms, with swapping stations in every village. It's imperfect, but the vehicles are much cheaper and firms have filled the void. That's a place where regulation enabled swapping and the spread of vehicles of the size it works for. Still, lots of plug-in vehicles in India as well. Another point of discussion was vehicle-to-grid. I'm bearish on V2G, for a bunch of reasons explained in my articles on the subject and indeed in the transcript of the seminar. The ISGF is debating this, with some senior members pro, and others saying that school bus fleets that have spiky, non-peak service days are one of the few suitable use cases. The ISGF is running an experiment on this, and as I always agree, I could be wrong. Finally, there's the question of pumped hydro. The ISGF a few years ago did a grid storage requirement study and said, at least then, that India should lean heavily on batteries for grid storage due to the constraints on pumped hydro. It's built a lot of battery storage on its grid, as has every other country now. But early grid storage requirements are for fast response and power, and end stage requirements don't require more fast response storage or significant power, but do require massive energy. I urged the ISGF to return to the subject to explore 2030 and later requirements as lead times on pumped hydro are long. As always, my humble thanks to Reji Kumar Pillai and Rish Ghatikar for inviting me to assist the great country of India in a small way. #india #climateaction #gridstorage #electricity

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🌟Understanding India's Power Sector: A Strategic Overview 🌟 Curious about the evolving dynamics of India’s power sector? Our latest commentary offers a comprehensive look at the challenges and opportunities in one of the world’s fastest-growing energy markets - India. Key highlights: 🔹 Diverse Energy Mix: India’s shift toward renewable energy while balancing coal dependence. 🔹 Grid Challenges: The country’s ambitious plans for transmission infrastructure and the complexities of grid integration. 🔹 Policy Impacts: How government initiatives shape market outcomes, creating investment opportunities. Explore the full insight and stay ahead of energy trends: https://lnkd.in/ePPwzzEg To learn even more about the power market in India, join us for our webinar on Wednesday 4th December - sign up here: https://lnkd.in/etnCUwBV #India #IndianPower #IndianRenewables #Energy

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Excited to debut my first Tech Thought Leadership piece for Digilah - a technology platform founded by Anuradha Lal. I write about #India's declining #energy intensity and the critical need to advance clean tech to preserve these efficiency gains with global crude prices shifting back into a higher range. Just one more thing for the next government to focus on! Full article link in the post 👇

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India’s slow non-fossil energy progress puts its climate ambitions at risk Summary: India's goal to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030 faces setbacks, with renewable growth lagging due to limited transmission infrastructure, land acquisition issues, and inadequate battery storage. Only 18.48 GW was added last year, far below the 50 GW needed annually. This shortfall is increasing coal reliance, jeopardizing India’s net-zero 2070 target. Key Challenges: Transmission & Infrastructure: Remote renewable projects need extensive grid connections, but infrastructure expansion is slow. Land Acquisition: Securing land for large projects is difficult; localized solar initiatives for agriculture show promise but lack nationwide momentum. Coal Dependence: To meet demand, India plans to expand coal capacity by 80 GW by 2032, risking increased emissions. Distributed Renewables & Storage: Expanding rooftop solar and enhancing storage can support more resilient growth. Strategic Focus: India needs stronger investment in transmission, storage, and decentralized renewables. Missing the 500 GW target could derail long-term climate goals, making immediate policy shifts crucial. #IndiaRenewables #GreenEnergy #ClimateGoals #NetZero2070 #EnergyInfrastructure

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We know well that thermal power plants, especially those firing coal, impact the environment and public health. Especially in terms of PM2.5, fine particulate matter of 2.5 microns width or smaller that persists in the air and can increase the risk of health problems like heart disease, asthma, and low birth weight, eventually becoming a cause of mortality. In spite of impressive strides in solar and wind power capacities, India remains significantly dependent on coal for over 70 percent of the electricity units consumed annually. In 2021 the Indian government revised its regulations to reduce the impact of power plants within 10km of cities with more than 1 million people. This sounds like a broad, logical criterion, but it misses key parameters like the quality of the fuel being used - which influences the specific pollutants - and the combustion efficiency of the plants - which affects the quantum of emitted gases per ton fuel consumed. A new study from Stanford University, led by Kirat Singh who hails originally from smoggy Delhi, shows that focusing only on population density near a power plant is an inadequate inductor of mortality attributable to that unit. It calls on policymakers in India to deep-dive the issues more thoroughly and focus on mitigating the 30 worst power stations in the country. With potentially transformative consequences. The original study is available here: https://lnkd.in/g3DNaQh9 Its main finding: “Units producing just 3.5% of total generation and constituting less than 3% of total capacity result in 25% of annual premature mortality from coal-fired generation.” The work has been highlighted by The Guardian, too: https://lnkd.in/gGwHSWrb Policymakers and power plant operators need to take note. Not all can afford to buy indoor air purifiers. And clean air is a fundamental right, inextricably linked with the right to life. #pollution

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24/7 Carbon-Free Electricity Procurement Could be a Key Enabler for Asia-Pacific’s Energy Transition Summary: The BNEF report emphasizes the transformative potential of 24/7 carbon-free energy (CFE) procurement in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region to drive the energy transition. Key takeaways include: Key Insights and Highlights: APAC's Role in Global Emissions: APAC's greenhouse gas emissions have grown from 25% of global emissions in 1990 to 47% in 2021, driven largely by the power sector. Decarbonization is critical to achieving the Paris Agreement goals​. 24/7 Carbon-Free Electricity (CFE): Traditional renewable procurement methods, which align annual energy consumption with renewables, fail to match hourly or locational demand. 24/7 CFE requires precise matching to ensure companies rely solely on carbon-free sources. Investment Needs: To achieve decarbonization, significant investment is required in renewable energy (solar, wind), long-duration energy storage (like batteries), and grid expansion. The power grid needs $21.4 trillion globally by 2050, while corporate clean energy procurement can fill critical funding gaps​. Technology Pathways for Decarbonization: APAC markets, including India, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam, show potential to meet over 70% of annual electricity demand with renewables by 2050. This will necessitate robust storage and dispatchable low-carbon technologies like nuclear and hydrogen​. Barriers to Procurement in APAC: Regulatory challenges, limited market openness, and high wheeling charges restrict corporate access to affordable clean energy in many APAC countries​. Recommendations: Policy Reforms: Address regulatory barriers, implement innovative power auction designs, and adopt 24/7 CFE-enabling mechanisms like hourly renewable energy certificates (RECs). Grid Modernization: Support grid expansion and integration to handle renewable variability. Market Development: Incentivize markets to facilitate clean energy procurement, focusing on long-term corporate commitments​. Corporate Role and Benefits: Corporates play a pivotal role as major electricity consumers, enabling renewable investments and influencing policy reform. Adoption of 24/7 CFE can reduce emissions, stabilize electricity costs, and drive the decarbonization of host countries' power systems​. Regional Priorities: India: Largest clean PPA market in APAC, with robust renewable adoption driven by state-level reforms. Japan, South Korea, Vietnam: Show emerging progress, supported by power market reforms and international collaborations​. Conclusion: Enabling 24/7 CFE in APAC is a pivotal step in meeting national and corporate decarbonization goals, creating a resilient and sustainable energy ecosystem while catalyzing investment and innovation. #247CarbonFreeEnergy #CFEProcurement #APAC #RenewableEnergy #Decarbonization #CleanEnergyInvestment #GridModernization #CorporateSustainability #EnergyInnovation #ParisAgreement #SustainableDevelopment

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Call for Proposals (#CfP): Setting Up #Green #Hydrogen #Hubs in #India Introduction The Government of India, under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, invites proposals from interested entities to establish Green Hydrogen Hubs within the country. The aim of these hubs is to catalyze the development of a robust green hydrogen ecosystem, promote renewable energy integration, and reduce carbon emissions. Scope of the Proposals Proposals should address the following key aspects: 🌈 Hub Location: Identification of suitable locations based on factors such as availability of renewable energy resources, proximity to industrial users, and infrastructure connectivity. 🌈 Hub Components: Detailed plans for the establishment of green hydrogen production facilities, storage infrastructure, transportation systems, and associated facilities (e.g., research and development centers, training institutes). 🌈 Technology Adoption: Selection and justification of appropriate technologies for green hydrogen production, storage, and utilization, considering factors like efficiency, scalability, and cost effectiveness. 🌈 Renewable Energy Integration: Strategies for integrating renewable energy sources (solar, wind) into the hydrogen production process, ensuring a sustainable supply of clean energy. 🌈 Industrial Partnerships: Plans for collaborations with industries that can utilize green hydrogen as a feedstock or fuel, fostering demand and driving market growth. 🌈Research and Development: Initiatives for promoting research and development in green hydrogen technologies, addressing technological challenges, and enhancing efficiency. 🌈 Environmental Impact Assessment: Assessment of the potential environmental impacts of the proposed hub and mitigation measures to minimize adverse effects. 🌈 Financial Model: A comprehensive financial plan outlining the project's capital requirements, revenue streams, and expected return on investment. Eligibility Criteria Indian Entities: Proposals must be submitted by Indian entities, including public sector undertakings, private companies, joint ventures, or partnerships. Financial Capacity: Applicants should demonstrate the financial capability to undertake the proposed project, including access to necessary funds or partnerships. Technical Expertise: Applicants must possess the technical expertise and experience required for the development and operation of green hydrogen hubs. Environmental Commitment: Applicants should have a strong commitment to environmental sustainability and a proven track record of implementing green initiatives. Proposal Submission Interested entities should submit their proposals in accordance with the guidelines provided by the Government of India.

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The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (ऊर्जा दक्षता ब्यूरो) has initiated a voluntary Star Labelling program for Grid-connected Solar Inverters.     This is a big step forward for India's Standards and Labeling (S&L) program. Through this initiative, there is a projection in achieving energy savings of 21.1 billion kWh and a significant reduction of 15.1 million tonnes in carbon dioxide emissions between FY 2024-25 and FY 2033-34.     Beyond its direct impact on energy conservation, this endeavour serves as a key enabler for the Prime Minister’s Rooftop Solar Programme. Aligned with the objective of deploying rooftop solar systems in 10 million households nationwide, this initiative promises to further accelerate the adoption of solar energy across diverse segments of the population.       𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬: ◉ The label period for energy star label will be 15th March 2024 to 31st December 2025.    ◉ This energy labelling program encompasses for both single phase and three phase grid connected solar inverters without storage up to and including 100 kW rated output power being manufactured, imported and sold in India.    ◉ This program does not cover the dynamic MPPT efficiency.   ◉ Only BIS certified solar inverters complied with IS 16221-2:2015 are eligible to take part in the BEE’s Standard and Labelling program.   ◉ The standard and labelling portal for company and model registrations will be accessible soon.        You can find more information, including the schedule and sample label layout, on the S&L portal by clicking here: https://lnkd.in/gDRi66ZT     For any clarification, queries can be directed to [email protected]    #India #SolarEnergy #RenewableEnergy #StandardsAndLabeling #solar #energyefficiency #RooftopSolar #energyconservation #SolarInverters

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☀️ India’s Solar Industry: Bridging the Skill Gap to Achieve Clean Energy Goals 🌍 India’s ambitious solar manufacturing goals face hurdles such as inadequate funding, skill shortages, and logistical challenges. Key issues include: 🛠 Skill Gap: A 1.2M workforce shortage, rising to 1.7M by 2027, impacts project timelines and exports. 💡 Training Needs: Traditional courses lag in renewable energy tech; hands-on training fills the gap. 📈 Rising Costs: Attrition rates and underutilized equipment escalate operational expenses. Solutions in Action: 🏫 Tata Power trains youth in solar installations. 🌏 Companies offer overseas training to upskill workers. 🤝 Govt-industry collaborations aim to enhance resources and ease visa restrictions for experts. India must scale its efforts in funding and training to realize its clean energy vision and lead the global solar market. Full Article: https://lnkd.in/gZeAHCAi 📢 Join our Telegram group: https://lnkd.in/dTDZyfhb #ChemicalEngineeringNews #ChemEngUpdates #EngineeringInnovations #ChemTechTrends #ProcessEngineering #ChemicalIndustryInsights #GATEChemicalPrep #ChemEngCareers #WeeklyChemDigest #ChemistryInAction #SolarEnergy #CleanEnergy #Renewables #MakeInIndia #Sustainability #EnergyTransition

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The biggest challenge of our time-balancing developmental needs with climate goals, read on to see perspectives on balancing energy transition with decent quality of living

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With the increasing share of #renewableenergy in India's power mix, ensuring grid stability and resilience is more critical than ever. Addressing the variability and intermittency of renewable energy sources like #solar and #wind is a primary challenge. ► #Energystoragesystems (ESS) are key solutions to mitigate these issues by providing a buffer that can store excess energy during peak production times and release it when demand is high. Various energy storage technologies, including #lithiumionbatteries, pumped hydro storage, and advanced #flowbatteries, have advantages and applications. A diversified approach to energy storage, leveraging multiple technologies to address different aspects of grid stability, is necessary. Policy recommendations to enhance grid stability through energy storage include: • Implementing time-of-use #tariffs to incentivize energy storage deployment. • Developing #ancillaryservices markets where energy storage can provide grid support services. • Encouraging #researchanddevelopment in next-generation energy storage technologies. By addressing these challenges with innovative solutions and supportive policies, India can ensure a reliable and #resilient power grid that accommodates a high share of renewable energy. Explore the detailed analysis and recommendations for a robust energy future. #GridStability #EnergyPolicy #SustainableEnergy #EnergyStorageSolutions #RenewableEnergy #batteryenergystorage #powergrid #solarpower #hydropower #windenergy

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"Saurabh Kumar: India’s ambitious target of achieving 500 GW of non-traditional fuel-based electricity capacity by 2030 underscores the nation’s leadership in the global energy transition. With 186.46 GW already installed from non-traditional sources—including 178.98 GW from renewable energy and 7.48 GW from nuclear power—the progress is evident. However, to meet the 500 GW goal, India must install an additional 320 GW of non-traditional fuel capacity within this decade. Projections suggest that renewables will comprise about 50% of the country’s total installed capacity by 2030, reflecting a decisive shift towards cleaner energy. To facilitate this, the Ministry of Power has established a dedicated committee to develop a transmission system for integrating over 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030. This involves collaboration with state governments and energy corporations to ensure that the grid can manage the variable nature of renewable energy sources like solar and wind. Plans include enhancing transmission infrastructure, such as 8,120 circuit kilometers of High Voltage Direct Current corridors and 51.5 GW of battery energy storage capacity by 2030, with an estimated investment of INR 2.44 lakh crore (around$29 billion)." reads the article https://lnkd.in/eue6p-N3

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BESS capital cost has plunged to $150/kWh (Rs 2.5 Cr/MW) in India !! India has witnessed a remarkable plunge in battery storage prices since 2021. The latest SECI solar + storage auction results are a testament to this trend, with prices hitting a low of Rs 3.41/kWh. The key question is what BESS capital cost makes these prices possible ? Here is an attempt to estimate battery storage capex in India for the last 3 years: 2021 (SECI): Standalone storage at $450/kWh (Rs 7.5 Cr/MW). 2024 (GUVNL): Standalone storage at $200/kWh (Rs 3.2 Cr/MW). 2024 (SECI): Co-located storage at $150/kWh (Rs 2.5 Cr/MW). In just three years, the BESS capital cost has plummeted by nearly 70%. Indian developers are accessing battery packs at $80-100/kWh, aligning with global market trends. LFP pack prices in China have fallen to $60-70/kWh. With declining material costs and global manufacturing overcapacity, we anticipate battery pack prices to drop further, potentially reaching $50-60/kWh by 2030, implying a BESS capital cost of $100-120/kWh. We are entering a new era of power sector planning, necessitating a fresh look at all our least-cost resource assessments for meeting the growing electricity demand. #EnergyStorage #RenewableEnergy #PowerSector #BatteryRevolution Amol Phadke Jai Prakash Shivahare, IAS Umed Paliwal Neelima Jain Shruti Mahajan Deorah Ashwin Gambhir. Debmalya Sen Dr. Rahul Walawalkar Dr.-Ing. Yashodhan Pramod Gokhale Dinesh Jagdale Sushanta Chatterjee Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) India Energy & Climate Center(IECC) Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd. (GUVNL)

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At CoP28, global leaders agreed on the goal of scaling clean energy rapidly in the near term. Specifically, the CoP28 declaration called for actions towards achieving a tripling of renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency improvements by 2030. The UNFCCC also noted that the “CoP28 Agreement signalled the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era”. These are worthy goals, but, in reality, the transition is proving hard to achieve. Data for 2023 from the EI Statistical Review of World Energy 2024 clearly demonstrates that despite unprecedented growth in renewables in the past decade, the share of fossil fuels has hardly been dented. More here: https://lnkd.in/dztEr_Fa By - Anish De, Global Head of Energy & Natural Resources, KPMG

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Carbon pricing is essential, spreading rapidly and carbon border adjustment mechanisms are following quickly. This past week saw another seminar in my series with Indian utility professionals under the auspices of the India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF) at the invitation of its long-serving president Reji Kumar Pillai. Linked are the slides and full transcript. https://lnkd.in/gpZ5MFrN Carbon pricing just adds all of the costs to transactions in markets, not allowing some organizations and firms to be free riders because a key waste stream with big impacts is invisible, odorless and floats away unnoticed. It's a conservative Pigovian tax, a market mechanism. It's just like the successful so-called sin taxes on tobacco and alcohol which have proven themselves over and over again in countries around the world to be good and effective policy. The EU — the highest import-export bloc in the world — has the most aggressive carbon price, is signaling that it will be much higher, is including all greenhouse gases as of 2026, and is building a carbon border adjustment mechanism which also starts having fiscal teeth in 2026. The United States has prices on methane leakages and high-global warming refrigerants, its richest state, California, has a carbon price on all GHGs, and the country almost introduced a CBAM. China has a carbon market on major emissions sources, one which is growing. Indonesia has carbon pricing. Argentina has carbon pricing. Mexico has carbon pricing. Canada has carbon pricing. Australia has carbon pricing. The UK has carbon pricing. Countries that electrify everything with renewables will outcompete countries that persist with fossil fuels. China is leading on electrification with renewable. Carbon pricing isn't regressive. Rich people emit a lot more GHGs so pay more in carbon prices, but there's no world where that's a burden on them. Impoverished people emit much lower levels of GHGs and pay less carbon pricing. And carbon pricing can easily be made progressive. Canada does it by pricing all GHGs and returning dividends to all Canadians quarterly. Economists tracking this show clearly that the bottom 60% of income earners receive more in dividends than they pay in carbon prices, and they get that money every three months. Voluntary carbon markets don't cut it. Feel-good carbon credits that are unregulated don't cut it. States and post-national entities like the EU have to impose them or they are just ways for the rich to buy indulgences at the expense of the poor, and in 20 years the poor are going to yank those indulgences back. Pricing greenhouse gases into market transactions is one of the most effective ways to get firms and people to stop burning fossil fuels and to electrify everything. It's a conservative fiscal measure. It's remarkable that so many so-called conservatives are opposed to it. #economics #markets #carbontax #carbonprice #climateaction

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