Context: Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has commissioned India's largest Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh.
About the project
- The Solar Battery Project is a 40 MW/120 MWh Battery Energy Storage System with an installed capacity of 152.35-megawatt hour and a dispatchable capacity of 100 MW AC.
- The project has deployed bifacial modules which reflect the light from the ground. This helps in generating more electricity than monofacial modules.
- The energy generated from the plant would be purchased by the state of Chhattisgarh for meeting the peak energy demand of the state using green electrons and towards its renewable purchase obligations.
- The project will ensure overall power stability and reliability by ensuring an efficient evacuation of power.
- Funding of the project: This project has been financed by the Clean Technology Fund of the World Bank and other long-term finances.
Need for battery storage of solar energy
- One of the limitations of Solar energy is that it produced only in the daytime. This problem could be addressed by storing solar energy into battery systems.
- The energy used in the battery systems can be used later when there is peak demand (often in the evenings).
Bifacial solar modules
- Bifacial solar modules produce solar power from both sides of the panel. In contract, monofacial solar cells produces electric energy only when photons impinge on their front side.
- Bifacial solar cells can make use of albedo radiation from the bottom and using diffused sunlight to be used.
- Bifacial solar cells come with advantages such as higher energy output and lower installation costs.
- Bifacial solar cells have greater durability as both sides are resistant to ultra-violet light and potential-induced degradation is also reduced when the bifacial module is frameless.
Clean Technology Fund
- Clean Technology Fund provides large-scale financial resource for investing in clean technology projects in low and middle-income countries.
- They contribute to the demonstration, deployment and transfer of low-carbon technologies with significant potential for reducing long-term greenhouse gas emissions.
- This is a fund under Climate Investment Fund.
- Clean Investment Fund has also established Clean Technology Fund Parallel Fund (CTFPF) which has been established in 2022. This is a parallel and associated fund of the CTF. This fund is used to accept new loan contributions in support of CTF activities in accordance with allocations made by CTF Trust Fund Committee.
Climate Investment Funds (CIF)
- CIF is one of the largest multilateral climate funds in the world to mobilise finance for low-carbon, climate-resilient development at scale in developing countries.
- Climate Investment Fund comprises of two funds – (i) Clean Technology Fund (ii) Strategic Climate Fund.
- Funds under Strategic Climate Fund are:
- Pilot Program for Climate Resilient (PPCR)
- Scaling Up Renewable Energy Program in Low Income Countries (SREP)
- Forest Investment Program
- Global Climate Action Programs