Context:
Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has recommended standardizing batteries to enhance electric vehicle-to-grid charging.
Report Highlights:
- The report provides a brief overview of the services that Electric Vehicles (EV’s) can provide to the power system through smart charging.
- The main form of smart charging includes bidirectional (reverse charging) vehicle-to-grid (V2G).
- Benefits of V2G –
- Flexibility in the Power System Operations: Each EV could effectively become a microgrid-connected storage unit with the potential to provide a broad range of services to the system.
- Better integration of renewable energy through peak shaving: It involves flattening the peak demand and filling the valley of demand by incentivizing late morning/ afternoon charging in systems with large penetration of solar.
- Optimized Grid Infrastructure Requirements
CEA is established under the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948. It discharges functions under Electricity Act, 2003, which replaced 1948 Act.
Electric Batteries:
- A voltaic or galvanic cell (2 half-cells) uses redox reactions to produce an electric current.
- Each half-cell is made of a metal electrode immersed in an electrolyte of that metal
- For example, a zinc electrode in zinc sulphate and a copper electrode in copper sulphate.
- The two metal electrodes are connected by a wire.
- The two tubs of electrolyte are connected by a salt bridge (a material that conducts ions while remaining electrically neutral).
- Working –
- Cathode (+ve charged electrode): Receives electrons
- Anode (-ve charged electrode): Supplies electrons
- Redox reaction of electrochemical cell: In an oxidation reaction, electrons are released, and in a reduction reaction they are consumed.
- The energy imparted to the electrons by the half-cells is called the source voltage (previously called the electromotive force).
- The terminal voltage is like a driving force that pushes the electrons from the anode to the cathode.
- Issues – Corrosion, Galvanic corrosion etc.
- Types of batteries – Li-ion battery, Hydrogen fuel cells
Source: Economic Times
Previous Year Question
With reference to the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is a Public Limited Government Company.
2. It is a Non-Banking Financial Company.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c)
