Gujarat has started setting up battery energy storage systems with a total capacity of 870 MW at five locations across the state to enhance grid stability and support increasing integration of renewable energy, PTI reported, citing officials, on Saturday.Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are used to store electricity generated from solar and other renewable sources and help manage fluctuations in supply and demand.“Gujarat has started battery storage systems at five locations with a total capacity of 870 MW,” an official statement said.The state has also registered 13 more projects in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Banaskantha, Patan and Kutch districts to set up more battery storage facilities.According to the statement, Modhera – India’s first solar village – has launched the country’s first solar village integrated with a solar power plant.“Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the state has continued to advance in this direction and consolidated its position among the leading states driving battery storage systems in India,” the statement said.Recently, a battery storage system was commissioned at Charal in Sanand taluka of Ahmedabad district, while four systems are already operational at Mudhera in Mehsana district and Lakhpat in Kutch.
The Gujarat government has incorporated advanced energy storage systems as a key component of the Gujarat Integrated Renewable Energy Policy, 2025.Under this policy, approvals are granted for stand-alone battery storage projects, and projects associated with new renewable energy facilities and systems integrated with existing renewable infrastructure.Once the standard operating procedure (SOP) is approved, commercial and industrial users will also be allowed to register battery storage projects along with solar and wind energy systems, the statement said.The state government invites companies to participate in the development of battery storage systems through competitive bidding.GETCO (Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation) and power distribution companies identify strategic locations for battery storage facilities based on grid requirements and operational needs.Renewable energy generation, especially from solar, fluctuates during the day, and battery storage systems can help store surplus electricity generated during peak sunlight hours for use during high-demand evening periods when solar production declines, officials said.The statement added that the systems are expected to reduce pressure on the network and improve overall network stability.