Context:
Lakshadweep’s 1st Solar Project launched with Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) technology.
Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) technology:
- Uses different electrochemical reactions to store electricity.
- Examples of BESS are Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery, Sodium-Sulfur (Na-S) battery etc.
- Different types of Energy Storage Systems –
- Mechanical (Ex. Pumped Hydro Energy Storage)
- Electrochemical (BESS)
- Thermal (Ex. Phase Change materials)
- Electrical (Ex. Super Capacitors)
- Fuel Cells
- 2 main categories of BESS –
- Traditional solid rechargeable batteries – chemical energy is stored in solid metal electrodes
- Flow batteries – chemical energy is stored in varying types of flowing liquid electrolytes kept in tanks separate from the actual electrochemical cells.
- Importance of BESS –
- Helps in achieving net zero emission targets by 2070 under Panchamrit.
- Improve grid stability during variable renewable generation.
Read more about Electric Batteries
Initiative under Ministry of Power:
- Scheme for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for development of BESS.
- Envisages 4,000 MWh of BESS projects by 2030-31, with a financial support of up to 40% of the capital cost as VGF.
- National Framework for Promoting Energy Storage Systems unveiled in 2023.
Source: PIB
Previous Year Question
Which one of the following pairs of metals constitutes the lightest metal and the heaviest metal, respectively?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2008 Prelims]
(a) Lithium and mercury
(b) Lithium and osmium
(c) Aluminium and osmium
(d) Aluminium and mercury
Answer: (b)
