Core Viewpoint - India is rapidly advancing its solar energy and storage market through mandatory storage policies, innovative business models, and financial incentives, aiming for energy independence by 2047 and net-zero emissions by 2070 [9][15]. Group 1: Project and Policy Developments - The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has initiated a 2GW grid-connected solar project tender, including a 1GW/4GWh storage system, under a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model [1]. - Developers must provide at least 500kW/2MWh of storage capacity for every 1MW of solar capacity contracted [2]. - SECI will sign a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the winning bidders [3]. - The minimum bid capacity for solar project developers is set at 50MW, with a maximum of 1GW, in increments of 10MW [4]. - A new regulation mandates that solar projects must include a storage system with a minimum of 10% capacity for 2 hours [5][6]. Group 2: Market Potential and Growth - The Indian government anticipates an addition of approximately 14GW/28GWh of storage capacity by 2030, driven by declining battery costs and the need to mitigate solar power intermittency [7]. - As of December 31, 2024, India's existing storage capacity stands at 4.86GW, with pumped storage accounting for 4.75GW and new storage technologies for 0.11GW [8]. - The latest assessment by the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) estimates India's solar development potential at 10,830GW, significantly higher than previous estimates [11][14]. Group 3: Business Model Innovations - Innovative business models such as Battery as a Service (BaaS) and Storage as a Service (SaaS) are emerging, allowing companies to lease storage equipment without upfront investment [9]. - The current revenue models for storage in India include ancillary services, energy arbitrage, long-term PPA agreements with renewable energy sources, demand response, and storage services [9]. Group 4: International Engagement and Collaborations - Chinese energy storage companies are actively entering the Indian market, leveraging policy and market dynamics to expand their competitive edge [15]. - Notable collaborations include Envision Energy's agreement to supply 1GW of wind turbines and a 320MWh storage system to JGE in India [15]. - Other companies like Nandu Power and Chuangneng New Energy are also establishing significant partnerships and projects in the Indian storage sector [16][19].