PNC: Interesting News from Power Sector A�Aperiodic (aniyatkalik): AUG 2024 issue

News Headlines:

• AI Power Sector News & Policies
• Power news from State Grids: Maha’s proposed Pumped Storage HYD Projects
• News about: Adani Power & CEPL’s Tutikorin THM Project/ Lanco’s Amarkantak THM Project/ Butibori’s THM Project
• Do you know this? & Is Lightening becoming a Big Killer in India?
• Top Solar projects: Worldwide
• Battle of EVs: Outlook for Emission Reduction: PEV vs PHEV vs HEV
• EV battery of the future: Sodium-Ion Technology
• India signs first-ever Green Ammonia export agreement with Japan

Compliled by:

Vijay L Sonavane

ME (Elect)

Date:04/09/2025

All info in this PPT is collected from various open sources available on the internet & News papers. Opinions expressed/ remarks, are my own views, which are based on my LIMITED EXPOSURE. You may not agree with my opinion. I respect your views/ opinons

Evening Peak Demd met (GW) & Energy Met (MU); �IEX MCV (Market Cleared Volume) (MU) , MCP (Market Clearing Price) (PSPU)

AI power consumption rises 3.5% to 145.40 BU in July 24

• AI power consumption rose by 3.5% to 145.40BU in July 24 compared to July 23 (140.41BU)
• Peak power demand met rose to 226.63GW in July 2024 against 208.95GW in July 23.
• Peak demand touched an all-time high of 250.20 GW in May 24.
• Previous all-time high peak power demand of 243.27GW was recorded in Sept 2023.
• With onset of monsoon, the consumers got relief from the scorching heat & humidity which led to lesser use of cooling appliances like ACs & desert coolers. This led to a decline in power consumption as well as growth in power Demd

Kakrapar Atomic Power Station Unit-4 (KAPP-4) Achieves Full Power Operation (20/08)

• KAPP-4 has successfully commenced operation at its full capacity of 700 MWe on 20/08/24. This marks a significant milestone following the reactor's first criticality on Dec 17 2023 & the start of its commercial operations on March 31 2024
• The twin units, KAPP-3 & KAPP-4, of NPCIL, Kakrapar in Guj are the largest indigenously built Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) in India

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IEX sees 35.8% growth in trading volume, REC market soars in August (04/09)

• IEX TTL trade volume rose 35.8% Y-O-Y to 12,040 MU in AUG 24. Electricity volume increased 17.1% Y-O-Y to 9,914 MU in AUG 24
• RE Certificates (REC) at 2,116 MU, increased 737.4% Y-O-Y. At Rs 115/certificate, REC market recorded an all-time low price in the trading session held on 28 Aug 24.
• These prices provide an opportunity to obligated entities (DISCOMS & CPPs) to meet their RPO & voluntary customers to meet their sustainability aspirations.
• As monsoon gained momentum in Aug, there was a substantial increase in HYD & Wind Gen, enhancing overall availability of RE in system,
• This led to a significant decline in Day-Ahead Market (DAM) prices & Real-Time Market (RTM) prices on PEXs.
• Market Clearing Price in DAM during Aug 24 declined 38% Y-O-Y to Rs 4.28 PU & Market Clearing Price in RTM slipped 44.8% Y-O-Y to Rs 3.59 PU

• DAM volume increased to 4,666 MU in Aug 24 from 3,810 MU in Aug 23, (22.5% increase) RTM achieved highest ever monthly volume of 3,485 MU in Aug 24, up from 2,738 MU in Aug 2023 (27.3% Rise)
• RTM segment also achieved its highest-ever single-day trade of 156 MU on 26^th Aug, demonstrating the market's ability to adapt to dynamic Demd-supply scenarios.
• Day Ahead Contingency & Term-Ahead Market (TAM), comprising of contingency, daily, weekly & monthly contracts up to 3 months, traded 886 MU during Aug 24.
• IEX Green Market, comprising Green Day-Ahead (G-DAM) & Green Term-Ahead Market (G-TAM) segments, achieved 871 MU volume during Aug 2024 compared to 242.30 MU in Aug 2023, registering an increase of 259.5%
• G-DAM achieved 849.3 MU volume during Aug 24 with a weighted AVG price of Rs 3.69 PU compared to 159.7 MU in Aug 23, a rise of 431.8%
• G-TAM achieved 21.7 MU volume in Aug 24, with an AVG monthly price of non-solar Rs 7.89 PU.
• 21.16 Lakh RECs (equivalent to 2,116 MU) were traded in the trading sessions held on 14 & 28 Aug 24, at a clearing price of Rs 118/REC & Rs 115/REC, respectively.

AI India's Coal production up 6.48% in FY25, dispatches grow by 5.14% (03/09)

• Cumulative AI coal production for APR-AUG 24, has increased to 384.08 MMT, compared to 360.71 MMT during the same period in FY 2023-24, reflecting a growth of 6.48%.
• Coal dispatch during APR-AUG 24, is 412.07 MMT, compared to 391.93 MMT for APR-AUG,
• Coal stock production by CIL was 290.39 MMT (3.17% Growth). Captive & other entities recoreded a growth of 30.56% in Coal production reaching 68.99 MMT during APR-AUG 24 compared to 52.88 MMT during APR-AUG 23.

Nepal to export 1,000 MW electricity to India (20/08)

• Nepal will export 1,000MW from 28 HEPs to India. Nepal is an important neighbour for India in the context of its overall strategic interests in the region, & leaders of the two countries have often noted the age-old "Roti Beti" relationship between the two sides.
• Nepal shares a border of over 1,850 km with five Indian States: Sikkim, WB, Bihar, UP & U’khand. Land-locked Nepal relies heavily on India for transportation of goods & services

In 2017-18 Nepal was importing over 500 (+) MW from India

Resi RT solar shines: 1.1 GW added in H1 of CY 2024 (30/08)

• India added 1.1 GW RT solar capacity in Jan-June 24, against 873 MW in H1 of CY 23.
• In Q2 of CY 2024, 731 MW RT solar systems (Resi:72% IND:23%, COMM:4%, Govt: 0.7% ) were installed, compared to 388 MW in April-June 23
• As of June 2024, India had a cumulative RT solar IC of 11.6 GW, the 'India Rooftop Solar Market Report' by Mericom Capital said.
• Report anticipate consistently higher installation rates in the Resi segment moving forward. However, if issues like module availability, component shortages, & escalating costs are not resolved, it can pose a challenge," Report said.
• Top 10 states contributed over 78% of cumulative RT solar installations as of June 2024. Guj, Maha, Raj, Kerala, & Kar remained at the forefront in terms of cumulative RT solar IC

India’s RE capacity is heavily concentrated in SR &WR, with seven states: AP, GUJ, KAR, Maha, Raj, TN, & TEL: comprising over 80% of TTL IC

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GOI allows Sugarcane juice, Sugar syrup for ethanol production in 2024-25 (30/08)

• GOI announced a Policy which allows Sugar mills & Distilleries can use Sugarcane Juice & syrup to produce Ethanol for FY 2024-25 Ethanol Supply Year (ESY). This decision reverses the ban imposed in Dec 2023 to ensure adequate sugar for dom consumption. The new policy also allows the use of B-heavy & C-heavy molasses for ethanol production.

Major Policy change:

• Start date: Nnew policy applies to ESY starting Nov 1, 2024.
• Sugar diversion: Previous limit on amount of Sugar that could be diverted for ethanol production has been removed.
• Ethanol blending: GOI aims to increase ethanol production to boost ethanol blending & address surplus food stocks. The target is to achieve 20% ethanol blending by 2025-26.
• Ethanol pricing: Ethanol produced from sugarcane juice is currently priced at Rs 65.61/ Liter. GOI has not changed the price since the 2022-23 season.
• Production: One tonne of sugarcane juice can produce about 72 Liters of ethanol.

India is the world's second largest sugar producing country after Brazil

TN sets new record in Solar Power Gen (12/08)

• Solar gen touched a new peak in Tamil Nadu on 09/08. Gen peaked at 5,979 MW, surpassing the Solar peak Gen of 5,704MW was recorded on Aug 2.
• Solar power absorbed into the grid also reached an all-time high of 41.40 MU on 09/08. Previously, 40.9 MU was the max power absorbed on Aug 3.
• This is the first time both Peak Gen & max absorption happened on the same day (09/08) Clear skies helped consistent Solar Gen all day.
• On the other hand, Wind Gen dwindled even though it is the season of winds. On 09/08, Tangedco absorbed 51.27 MU of wind power.
• Tangedco officials said rain hampered wind speed, thus reducing wind Gen. "When there is rain, power Demd too comes down,
• On 09/08, TN consumed 352.20 MU of power & max demand for the day was 16,237 MW.

THDCIL signs ₹33,600 CR MoU with Maha for 6,790 MW Pumped Storage Project (PSP) (04/09)

• THDC India has signed a pact with Dept of Water Resources,GOM for harnessing six totalling 6,790 MW with an investment of over Rs 33,600 CR.
• The agreement aims to facilitate developer in conducting surveys, investigations, preparing DPRs, & establishing projects in a time-bound manner while adhering to prevailing rules, policies, & schemes of both GOI & State Govt.

The six planned projects under this MoU are

• Malshej Ghat Pumped Storage Project (700 MW),
• Aruna PSP (1,950 MW),
• Kharari PSP (1,250 MW),
• Humbarli Birmani PSP (1,000 MW),
• Aruna Kolamb PSP (1,200 MW), &
• Morawadi Majarewadi PSP (690 MW).
• GOM will facilitate the process of water allocation necessary for the projects, including both initial filling & annual consumptive requirements, upon receiving applications from THDC India. In return, THDC is dedicated to preparing DPRs for each project & submitting them for approval to both CEA & State Water Resources Dept.

JSW Neo Energy receives LoA for 200 MW Wind-Solar Hybrid project from MSEDCL (31/08)

• JSW has received LoA for a 400 MW of wind-solar hybrid power project under greenshoe option from MSEDCL against MSEDCL – Phase III.
• The cumulative capacity allotted under Phase – III stands at 600 MW. Subsequent to this, the company’s total locked-in gen capacity has increased to 17.6 GW, which includes a total locked-in hybrid capacity of 3.2 GW.

Adani Power completes acquisition of CEPL for Melamaruthur Power Project – Phase I (04/09)

• Adani Power Ltd (APL) has completed acquisition of Coastal Energen Private Ltd (CEPL) for Melamaruthur (Tuticorin) THM Power Project – Phase I.
• With this, CEPL stands dissolved & Moxie Power Gen Ltd, a SPV incorporated by APL will act as surviving entity. CEPL has implemented 1,200 MW (2×600 MW) coal fired THM power plant in Tuticorin Dist (TN). Unit I of the project was commissioned in Dec 2014 & Unit II was commissioned in Jan 2016

Adani Power gets NCLT approval to acquire Lanco Amarkantak Power for Rs 4,101 CR (23/08)

• NCLT Hyderabad bench has approved Adani Power’s plan to acquire Lanco Amarkantak Power Ltd (LAPL) for an upfront payment of Rs 4,101 CR.
• LAPL is undergoing Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) under the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code.
• Adani Power will acquire 100% shareholding in LAPL for a cash consideration
• LAPL owns & operates a 2x300 MW (600 MW) THM power plant (Phase-I) at Pathadi Village in Korba Dist of Chhattisgarh. LAPL is also setting up a 2x660 MW (1320 MW) expansion capacity under Phase II.
• Majority of power generated from LAPL Phase-I capacity is supplied to Haryana & MP Discoms under LTPPA thro’ PTC Ltd. LAPL has 2.784 MMT LT fuel supply agreement with SECL: Coal India Ltd's subsidiary
• With this acqusition Adani Power will have an operational Power Gen capacity of 15,850 MW,

Adani Power set to acquire Butibori THM power plant for Rs 30 Bn (20/08)

• Adani Power Ltd is planning to acquire the 600 MW Butibori THM power plant in Nagpur from Reliance Power Ltd.
• The deal is expected to be valued between Rs 24 Bn & Rs 30 Bn. Adani Power is negotiating with CFM Asset Reconstruction Co to acquire the project under Vidarbha INDs Power Ltd.

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Tata Power inks MoU with GOM for 2,800 MW PSP (16/08)

• Tata Power has signed a MoU with Govt of Maha to set up two pumped HYD storage projects (PSP) with an investment of Rs 130 Bn
• The 1,800 MW PSP will be set up in Shirawta, Pune & 1,000 MW PSP in Bhivpuri, Raigad.

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Avaada Group signs MoU with GOM for two 2,750 MW PSPs (14/08)

• Avaada Group has signed a non-binding MoU) with GOM to develop two pumped storage projects (PSPs) with a combined capacity of 2,750 MW.
• The projects include 1,500 MW Pawana Falyan PSP located in Pune and Raigad Dists, & 1,250 MW Kumbhavade PSP in Kolhapur & Ratnagiri Dists. Total investment for these projects is estimated at Rs 140 Bn in the next 5-7 years

Do You Know This???

50% of India’s Factories are in 5 States:

• Top 3 States:TN: 38,837/ GUJ: 28,479/ Maha: 25,310/Bottom 3: Manipur: 204, Nagaland: 190, meghalaya: 158

Jharkhand has highest No of Coal Mines but Power (??)

• Per Capita Power consumption : Goa: 3197/ PUN: 2497/ HAR: 2404 KWH/year. Tripura: 422/ Manipur: 375/ Bihar: 373 KWH/year

3 Phones for Every Delhite (Teledensity: No of connections/ 100 persons) DEL’s Teledensity is on par with Hongkong

• Top 5: DEL: 280.35/ Kerala: 121.86/ HP: 119.91/ PUN: 114.6/ Kar: 103. 6
• Bottem 5: Bihar: 57.3/ UP:67.1/ MP:68.97/ Assam:74.03/ Odisha: 77.02

Literacy Rate: (%): KERLA Is the highest (AP literacy rate less than Bihar)

• Top 3: KER: 96.2%, DEL: 88.7, Ukhand: 88.7/ Bottom 3: AP: 66.45%, RAJ: 69.7%, Bihar:70.9%

Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in Rs Lakh CR)

• Maha’s GSDP (FY 22-23): $439 Bn PAK: $338 Bn
• Top 5: Maha: 31.1/ TN: 23.6/ UP: 22.6/ Kar: 22.4/ GUJ: 19.4 / Lowest Mizoram: 0.3 Lakh CR

Per Person Annual Gross State Domestic Product at current price in Rs Lakh/year

• Per capita Income of Sikkim/DEL/Goa is at the level of S. Africa
• Per capita Income of UP/Bihar are at level of Rwanda/ Somaliya
• Top 5: Sikkim: 5.20/Goa: 4.72/ DEL: 4.45/ TEL:3.12/ Kar: 3.02
• Bottem 5: Bihar: 0.54/ UP:0.84/ Manipur:0.92/ J’khand: 0.92/Meghalaya: 1.23

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Is Lightening becoming a Big Killer in India?

In 2022 Total deaths due to lightening: 2886.

• Top 5 States: MP: 496, Bihar: 329, Odisha: 316, UP: 301, Jharkhand: 267; TTL: 2109 (73%)
• Hotter Summers combined with heavy rail falls 🡪 rise in Strikes. There are more lightenings in Aug & Sept as these are months of heavy rains
• Global warming has an indirect bearing on the ligthening strikes, as it impacts rain bearing system
• Lack of awareness makes the poor more vulnerable .
• AVG lightening bolt contains 5 Bn Joules of energy enough to power a 100 Watt bulb for 18 months
• Some Districts have installed low cost lightening conductors, made from second hand bicycle rims, Bamboo & metalic wires on the top of buildings.
• Odisha & UP have announced plans to plant Palm Tress that can act as a barrier to lightening

Top Solar projects: Worldwide (22/08)

On 21/08 Australia approved plans for a massive solar hub intended to supply electricity to Singapore. The SunCable project is expected to produce 6 GW & begin supplying power by 2030 to Singapore.

Major solar projects announced, & under construction/ already operating

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Midong Solar Power Project, China:

Midong Solar project in Xinjiang region was brought online in June 24, with an operating capacity of 3.5GW.

• It is China’s biggest & is exceeding capacity of 2 previous largest solar projects in Ningxia & Qinghai regions.
• But it is likely to be overtaken soon, with other megaprojects already under WIP including the Inner Mongolia Tengger Solar project is under construction, to have a capacity of 8GW
• China is building almost twice as much wind & solar capacity as every other country combined. China has 339GW under construction, including 180GW of solar.

Khavda Solar Park, India:

Khavda Solar park is the Hybrid RE project (Solar+Wind) under construction (30 GW) in Guj, near PAK border. (will be world’s largest RE installation, when fully operational, around 2027.

• The Project has already begun generating with 551 MW Solar capacity in Q! of CY 24. Adani Green Energy, is one of the firms developing this massive site.

Al Dhafra, United Arab Emirates

UAE inaugurated the 2GW Al Dhafra solar plant in 2023, weeks before it hosted UN climate talks. Located South of Abu Dhabi, it stretches over 21 Sq Kms of desert, (area about one-fifth size of Paris)

• The project was described as the largest single-site PV power plant in the world upon its inauguration.

Benban Solar Park, Egypt

Egypt’s Benban Solar Park, built in Western desert 40 KM from Aswan city, was connected to the National grid in 2019.

• It is often described as Africa’s largest solar project, with a capacity of around 1.5GW.
• The $4 Bn World Bank-funded project stretches over 37 Sq Kms

Chill Sun Project, United States

• Among the biggest planned solar farms in the US is the Chill Sun Solar Project. The projected 2.25GW facility is proposed for construction in the sun-drenched State of Nevada, which is already home to dozens of smaller solar plants.
• The US is adding RE capacity fast, behind only China, but at a far slower rate. The US has 40GW wind & solar in construction compared to China’s 339GW, & the US generates 16% of its electricity from wind & solar.

Battle of EVs: �Outlook for Emission Reduction: PEV vs PHEV vs HEV

• India’s population has crossed 140 CR & it is constantly growing. The transport requirement is thus contentiously increasing
• GOI has rightly decided to phase out ICE & replace them with EVs as EVs offer a cleaner & more sustainable ENV compared to traditional ICE Vehicles.

Three main types of EVs;

• Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEVs),
• Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (P-HEV) &
• Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

Plug-In Electric Vehicles (PEV):

• PEVs are pure-play EVs running only on electricity supplied by the battery thro’ the electric motor to the wheels. Thus, they produce no tailpipe emissions making them most ENV friendly, especially when charged with RES.
• PEVs have far fewer moving parts compared to ICE powered vehicles resulting in lower Maint Cost
• As electricity is cheaper than petrol, CNG or diesel which makes PEV’s running cost lower. In urban areas, they have another advantage that of almost no noise, thus practically Zero sound pollution.
• With more battery power & DC motor that provides high starting torque, PEV gives a smooth driving experience.

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Disadvantages of PEV:

• High initial cost due to high battery cost;
• Limited range that is decided by battery capacity, especially when one wants to have a long drive;
• Long charging time compared to filling up of gasoline/CNG/diesel;even fast charging may take 30 minutes or more.
• The situation gets further worsened due to lack of charging infrastructure, its availability & HI cost of Comm Charging.

Plug In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV):

• PHEVs have Power Split Device which manages the power distribution between the ICE & electric motor.
• This device gives the choice to operate the vehicle in electric-only mode, ICE-only mode, or a blended mode, i.e., combination of both. Thus, it has the dual advantage of having a fuel powered IC engine & battery run electric motor.
• Compared to PEV, PHEV have smaller batteries which may have a range of 50 -100 km but the essence is that the owner does not have range anxiety.
• No sooner has the battery been low; it can be switched to an IC engine.
• PHEV has no emission when run on the battery though it has emission related to IC engines whenever switched to ICE Mode

• Thus, on heavy traffic urban roads, it is ideal to be run on battery and on highways where emission is less important, it can be switched over to ICE without any range anxiety.
• In the present Indian context, where charging infrastructure is lacking, PHEV can prove to be a better option.
• In addition, it reduces fuel consumption in comparison to ICE, thus bringing down import bills.
• However, carrying both battery & electrical transmission & ICE on the same chassis makes the design complex & manufacturing costly.
• Further, maintenance costs soar & at times it becomes difficult to get technicians who can handle both technologies.
• Though battery size is smaller compared to PEV, it still adds to the weight of PHEVs bringing down the fuel efficiency.
• On top of all these, there are still no clear cut regulations for PHEVs in India

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV):

• PHEVs have dual prime mover: IC engine & battery powered electric motor but it does not have a plug-in facility. HEVs do not require charging from an external Source unlike PEVs & PHEVs.

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• The battery, which is much smaller in comparison to PEV, is charged by the ICE & also thro’ regenerative braking.
• In India, where charging infrastructure is inadequate this version is convenient for drivers.
• In the US Hybrids without the plug-in feature, which are much less expensive than either battery-electric cars or plug-in hybrids, are more popular
• HEVs had an AVG transaction price of $43,142 in July, according to Edmunds. That's $4,574 cheaper than the price paid for any new car that same month.
• HEVs cost less than BEVs & PHEVs, thus, are more affordable for customers.
• Both HEVs & PHEVs have lower batteries compared to BEV but between HEVs & PHEVs, electric motor in HEVs is smaller & less powerful BEV but between HEVs & PHEVs, the electric motor in HEVs is smaller & less powerful.
• Generally, PHEVs are more suitable for local runs whereas HEVs are more suitable for longer runs, bringing more saving on fuel. HEVs are designed to operate on electric power for only short distances, that too, at low speeds.
• HEVs’ ability to reduce emissions, is limited compared to PHEVs & PEVs & the fuel consumption is higher in comparison to PHEVs.
• HEVs, like PHEVs, have a complex powertrain that not only requires highly skilled technicians to maintain them but also leads to higher maint costs compared to ICE vehicles or BEVs.
• Both GOI & State Govts are providing various incentives, subsidies & tax rebates to promote EVs. In addition to these, the purchaser of an EV gets a tax exemption of Rs. 1.5 lacs under Section 80EEB on the interest paid on loan amount for purchase. Hitherto all incentives, subsidies & exemptions were available for PEVs.

• 2 & 3 WH vehicles have only PEV version in the market as of now,
• A battel broke out between PEV & HEV manufacturers as far as 4 WH are concerned after UP Govt on July 5, issued an order waiving 8-10% registration tax on strong HEVs & PHEVs.
• Tata Motors, Hyundai, Kia, and M&M have been strongly opposing this decision of UP Govt on the grounds that this would severely impact PEV sales citing many other countries where only PEV is incentivised
• Maruti Suzuki, Tyota & Honda, on the other hand, have been advocating in favour of this decision giving the plea that all green technologies including plug-ins & hybrids need support as they can help the State in reducing carbon emissions.
• Since transport is a subject on the concurrent list & authority vests with state govt, UP govt is within its right to waive 8-10% registration tax on plug-ins & strong hybrids

Such orders, however, give wrong signals to manufacturers & users.

Plug-ins & Hybrids can never match PEVs in terms of reduction in carbon emission. States should give higher tax rebates to PEVs if the nation has to get to net zero status within the committed time frame.

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EV battery of the future: Sodium-Ion Technology (31/08)

• Lithium-ion batteries have been the go-to technology for vehicle electrification over the last decade. However, rapid rise in EV demand in past two years has resulted in massive pressure on battery supply chain.
• Hence it is necessary to diversify into newer battery technologies beyond Li. Sodium-ion is a promising technology to complement Li-ion batteries or even replace them in some cases.
• India aims of electrifying 30% of its vehicle fleet by 2030,
• DOM EV market is projected to grow at CAGR of 49% between 2022 & 2030, & annual sales are expected to reach 10 Mn by 2030.
• This will be possible only if India has a long-term solution to overcome the challenges of high cost of EV batteries, import dependence on key battery raw materials, & lack of India-made cell technology.

Sodium-ion as an alternative

• In 2010 world’s first mass-produced EV by a Japanese car maker employed a Li-ion battery with NCM (nickel-cobalt-manganese) chemistry, followed closely by an American EV maker introducing their first Comm EV with a similar NCA (nickel-cobalt-aluminum) chemistry.

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• These chemistries have superior performance, but their raw material supply sources, especially for Ni & CO, are concentrated in a few regions across the globe, which makes them susceptible to shortages & price fluctuations.
• This led to the resurgence of LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) chemistry as a low-cost alternative. The material cost of an LFP battery is 20-30% lower than the NCM, which has led to a global shift towards LFP batteries, with major OEMs (original equipment manufacturer) committing to the cause.
• Recent rapid growth in worldwide EV battery demand has exposed the bottlenecks with lithium mining. Enormous surge in prices of lithium carbonate & lithium hydroxide in the last two years has accelerated the search for newer battery technologies beyond lithium with more abundant, sustainable & low-cost resources.
• Sodium, a close cousin of lithium belonging to the alkali metal family, can be the answer. Large quantities can be extracted from both the earth’s crust & seawater & at a lower cost than lithium

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• Moreover, as sodium does not react with AL, an aluminum current collector can be used at both electrodes, unlike the lithium-ion battery, which requires a more expensive copper current collector at anode.
• Na-Ion & lithium-ion batteries are similar in cell construction, so production will need only slight assembly-line modifications, making it easier to switch. Overall, a sodium-ion battery is 20-30% cheaper than an LFP battery.
• Na-ion battery has no over-discharge characteristics: it can be allowed to discharge to zero volts. This reduces the chances of fire hazards during transportation.
• In contrast, a lithium-ion battery must always be stored with a minimum charge, making it susceptible to THM runaways.
• Sodium-ion batteries have faster charging times & could have a longer lifespan compared to lithium-ion variants.

More takers for sodium-ion technology

• A Chinese sodium-ion battery manufacturer has already set up world’s first GWh (Gigawatt hours) class production line & rolled out the first product off the line in Dec 2022.

What makes it so relevant for India?

• It is often argued that sodium-ion batteries suffer from lower energy densities, which essentially means they are heavier than lithium-ion variants for the same energy delivered. However, the first gen of Na-ion batteries has reached energy densities up to 160 Wh/kg, while the most recent LFP batteries have achieved just over 180 Wh/kg.
• For the next decade, a large part of Indian market will comprise smaller sub-10kWh batteries that go into 2- 3-wheelers. Majority of OEMs have switched to LFP batteries due to lower costs. The current electric 2 &3WHs in production have batteries with an energy density of 130 Wh/kg to 150 Wh/kg. This presents a ready-made use case for Na-ion chemistry as a relevant low-cost, sustainable alternative.
• Na-ion batteries are relevant as a cost-effective alternative for applications where weight & energy density are less of a concern, such as stationary energy storage systems, which are a sunrise sector in India.

Way ahead:

Na-ion batteries which have lower energy density use safer materials which are less prone to THM runaway, therefore, this battery technology is an attractive option. Furthermore, it is 30% less costly compared to Li-ion batteries

India signs first-ever green Ammonia export agreement with Japan (21/08)

• India & Japan signed their first agreement to export Green Ammonia from India to Japan. The agreement, a project offtake agreement, was signed by Sembcorp IND, Sojitz Corporation, Kyushu Electric Power, & NYK Line in the presence of MNRE Minister, Pralhad Joshi. The agreement is a significant step in India's goal of becoming a global leader in green H2 & ammonia. . Collaboration with Japan is a testament to India’s growing expertise & commitment to sustainable development & energy independence
• Sembcorp IND will lead the production of green ammonia in India, utilising RE sources.
• Kyushu Electric Power has committed to integrating this Green ammonia into its energy mix, partially replacing Coal consumption at THM power plants in Japan
• Sojitz Corporation will act as the business intermediary, facilitating the connection between ammonia producer & off-taker.
• NYK Line will oversee the maritime transportation of green ammonia from India to Japan

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