Tamil Nadu Eyes Battery Storage Policy at Thursday Cabinet Meet
Chennai, October 28: Tamil Nadu's cabinet is set to meet on Thursday at the Secretariat under Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, and a policy to strengthen renewable energy storage may be on the agenda. The meeting is the government's third cabinet session, and industrial proposals along with administrative decisions are also expected to be discussed.
The timing of these discussions is significant. The northeast monsoon is picking up pace, and officials are working to handle power cuts across the state while keeping electricity flowing.
The proposed Battery Energy Storage System policy aims to promote facilities that can store clean energy generated from renewable sources for use when it is needed. Officials said storage can balance the variations in solar and wind power output, which in turn can make the electricity grid more dependable.
A draft created with the help of a consultancy firm has been modified several times over the past five months. A senior official of the state power utility said the team examined policies in place in Gujarat, Rajasthan and other prominent states before revising the framework.
Officials have confirmed that the proposal has been sent to the cabinet for deliberation but has not been approved so far.
Another senior official said the policy and its implementation were discussed with solar and wind developers. Once notified, the policy is expected to make it easier to apply for new renewable energy projects.
With renewable energy capacity rising in Tamil Nadu, the demand for storage infrastructure has also grown. Since solar and wind generation depends on weather conditions, balancing their output with grid demand has become essential.
Renewable energy producers have welcomed the proposal but have asked for changes to ease the financial burden on developers. Kumardas, a member of an association, suggested that the state government consult the Centre on allowing duty-free import of BESS equipment. He argued that battery systems are costly and that such infrastructure is limited in India.
To support smaller developers, he proposed exempting solar plants of 5 MW capacity or less from mandatory BESS requirements. He noted that electricity generated by such plants during daylight is usually consumed immediately, leaving little room for storage.
Apart from energy and investment, the minister may also raise law and order following the escape of prisoners from the Theni district jail. The proposed new Secretariat in Foreshore Estate, which has drawn strong opposition, may also be discussed at Thursday's meeting.