- Pilot project for Rajasthan’s first sodium‑ion battery energy storage system to launch
- Jaipur Discom and Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet issue RFP
- 250 kW/250 kWh project to be developed in Jaipur
- Assessment of peak demand management and rooftop solar utilisation will be carried out
Jaipur, 28 Oct. – Jaipur Discom has taken a significant step to promote clean energy and make the power distribution network more efficient. Jaipur Power Distribution Corporation and the global energy organisation Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (G‑App) will develop the country’s first distribution‑transformer‑level sodium‑ion battery energy storage pilot project.
On the second day of the national conference, the two organisations issued an RFP to develop a 250 kW/250 kWh pilot project at KL Saini Stadium, Jaipur. The project will assess the capacity of sodium‑ion battery technology to manage peak local demand in Jaipur’s Manasrover area and to better utilise electricity generated from rooftop solar.
Under the project, an energy‑storage system will be installed at the distribution‑transformer level to evaluate how placing battery storage close to consumers can ensure uninterrupted supply during peak transformer demand. It will also test the viability of sodium‑ion technology as an alternative to popular lithium‑ion batteries.
Accordingly, Jaipur Discom will provide site, technical staff and operational data for the project. Global Energy Alliance will design the system, monitor performance, provide technical support and train Discom engineers. Both organisations will share the project’s findings and outcomes so that other power distribution companies can assess the suitability of sodium‑ion energy storage in their networks.
The initiative was praised by the Energy Secretary and the chairperson of Rajasthan Discoms, Ms Arti Dogra, who said that as demand rises during peak hours, the most immediate impact is seen at the distribution‑transformer level. She added that the pilot will help make the state’s distribution network efficient, store rooftop‑solar energy and test how effective sodium‑ion storage can be in reducing pressure compared to lithium‑ion. The experience gained will aid future decisions on installing energy‑storage systems in distribution networks.
Ms Tanya Singh, Country Head of Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, said that energy storage will play a vital role in India’s power grid and that distribution companies should have more than one reliable battery technology to choose from. She noted that testing sodium‑ion technology on transformers in Rajasthan will help companies make data‑driven decisions rather than estimates. She expressed delight at advancing the initiative with Jaipur Discom and sharing the experience nationwide.
By combining data from the network level with real‑world testing of emerging energy‑storage technology, this project will provide practical, evidence‑based information for future decisions on decentralised energy storage and grid modernisation in India.
It is noteworthy that Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet is a global non‑profit that develops partnerships among public, private and philanthropic organisations to accelerate clean energy and economic opportunities.
Abhishek Jain/Priyanka