Energy storage has a vital role to play in the green transition of BIMSTEC countries

Energy storage has a vital role to play in the green transition of BIMSTEC countries

Subject : International relations

Section: International organization

Context: The growing energy demands in the emerging economies of countries in the region will require that the energy transitions in the region be resource-efficient and based on the timely need for energy.

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• Energy storage systems can store energy from variable sources such as solar and wind until required, thereby allowing the integration of more renewable energy into the system. They discharge when they release the energy back into the grid.
• Storage technologies are essential to replace fossil fuel-based generations with 100 per cent renewable energy-based energy system sources. Lithium-ion batteries are currently the predominant storage technology solutions for large-scale plants to ensure a reliable renewable energy source. It should be cost-effective and long-lasting for renewable power — charging and discharging many thousand times.
• There are many storage techniques to address the issues of intermittencies of renewable energy systems, such as compressed air storage, pumped hydro-electricity storage, advanced rail energy storage, stacked blocks, flywheels, lithium-ion battery storage, liquid air energy storage, pumped heat electrical storage, redox flow batteries, superconducting magnetic energy storage and methane.
• BIMSTEC countries have immense potential for regional grid balancing in the context of large-scale renewable energy growth due to diversity in supply sources. For example, the generation resources in Nepal and Bhutan are predominantly hydro, and Myanmar has huge untapped hydropower potential.
• With the rise of power markets due to recent reforms in power markets in India and the development of ancillary service markets, a market-based approach to regional grid balancing will become the preferred choice to manage the intermittency in the most economical manner in the BIMSTEC regional context.
• While there is large potential of hydro energy resources in the region, it is important to develop these resources in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner with limited environmental degradation.

Pumped Hydroelectric Energy Storage:

• Pumped Hydroelectric Energy Storage (PHES) is a form of energy storage that involves pumping water from a lower reservoir to a higher reservoir during periods of low electricity demand.
• Working Principle: During periods of low electricity demand, excess electricity is used to pump water from a lower reservoir to a higher reservoir. When demand for electricity increases, the water is released from the higher reservoir, and flows back to the lower reservoir through turbines, generating electricity.
• PHES systems can store large amounts of energy, ranging from a few megawatts to several gigawatts.
• PHES is a reliable and cost-effective method of energy storage, with a long lifespan. It is also environmentally friendly, as it does not produce greenhouse gas emissions during operation.
• PHES is used to balance the supply and demand of electricity, and to provide backup power during emergencies. It is also used to store excess energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar power.
• PHES systems require large amounts of land, water, and capital investment. They may also have an impact on the environment and wildlife, particularly during the construction phase.
  • Examples in India: Some examples of PHES in India are the Srisailam Dam in Andhra Pradesh, the Koyna Hydroelectric Project in Maharashtra, and the Tehri Dam in Uttarakhand.
• Future prospects: PHES is expected to play an important role in the transition to renewable energy, as it can store excess energy from wind and solar power. It is also expected to become more cost-effective in the future, as the technology continues to improve.

For more details https://optimizeias.com/bimstec-region-can-provide-green-affordable-energy-access-to-all/