Jaipur: Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan, recognised as one of the world’s largest solar power hubs, is set to host India’s first ceramic storage-based concentrated solar power project, supplying solar energy round the clock.Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Ltd (RRECL) has granted approval to NTPC for setting up a 320-kilowatt pilot CSP project. The project aims to test a new technology that can generate solar power even after sunset, reducing dependence on conventional battery-based energy storage systems.Under the project, solar energy captured during the day will be stored as heat in specially designed high-temperature ceramic modules. The stored thermal energy will then be used to operate air turbines and generate electricity during nighttime hours. The technology is expected to provide a cost-effective alternative to chemical batteries, which are currently the most common option for storing renewable energy.The pilot project will use ceramic thermal energy storage technology developed by US-based company 247Solar. “NTPC is implementing the initiative in collaboration with RRECL, with the approval allowing the commencement of feasibility studies, site assessments and structural testing at the Bhadla site,” said an RRECL official.According to him, all electricity generated from the pilot plant will be used for the internal and auxiliary power requirements of NTPC’s facilities.While solar parks across the country generate substantial power during daylight hours, providing reliable renewable energy after sunset remains dependent largely on battery storage systems, which involve significant costs.If the Bhadla pilot proves successful, the technology could open the door for large-scale deployment of ceramic thermal storage systems across India. Such systems have the potential to improve grid reliability while lowering storage costs and reducing dependence on imported battery materials.Raj to host country’s first sodium-ion battery energy storage pilot projectJaipur: Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd and Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet have launched a pilot project to develop the country’s first sodium-ion battery energy storage system at the distribution transformer level in the state. The organisations recently invited proposals to install a 250 kW/250 kWh pilot system at KL Saini Stadium in Jaipur. The project will assess sodium-ion technology’s potential to manage local peak electricity demand and optimise the use of power generated by rooftop solar systems in Mansarovar. It will evaluate whether storage systems installed near consumers can ensure uninterrupted supply during high demand and examine sodium-ion batteries as an alternative to widely used lithium-ion technology.
