Over the past decade, India’s renewable energy growth has largely been driven by capacity addition. Large utility-scale solar parks have proliferated, on-site and off-site renewable energy solutions are now central to many C&I decarbonisation strategies.
Solar energy has become of the most flexible and scalable renewable technologies across geographies and business models, while wind continues to complement generation where site conditions allow. As renewable penetration increases, however, a structural challenge becomes more visible: generation does not always coincide with demand.
Variability, grid congestion, and restrictive banking provisions in states where limited policy support have made reliability and dispatchability key considerations in the next phase of growth. In this context, energy storage is increasingly becoming an important component of a resilient renewable energy ecosystem.
Why storage is becoming more relevant for utilities and energy-intensive industries
For utilities and energy-intensive industries, higher renewable penetration introduces operational complexity. Balancing supply and demand in real time, managing peak loads, and maintaining grid stability require flexibility. Without it, increasing solar and wind capacity can place strain on the system.
Energy storage supports time-shifting of renewable generation absorbing surplus energy during lower-demand periods and discharging it during peak hours. This can help reduce reliance on grid banking, fossil-based peaking power, and exposure to short-term market volatility.
At Gentari, this approach is already being implemented, or put into action. An integrated solar, wind, and battery plant at a customer facility in Sewagram delivers 7.5 MW of round-the-clock (RTC) renewable energy aligned to the site load’s requirements. As the first-of-its-kind behind-the-meter system in India, it has supported higher renewable energy utilisation while reducing dependence on conventional grid supply.
Policy momentum: Government support shaping storage deployment
India’s policy landscape is evolving to recognise storage as a strategic grid asset rather than a supplementary technology. This is reflected in the introduction of Energy Storage Obligations alongside Renewable Purchase Obligations, Viability Gap Funding mechanisms for standalone and renewable-linked BESS projects, and guidelines for Round-the-Clock (RTC) and firm renewable power tenders.
Parallel efforts to identify pumped hydro storage sites, along with the emergence of market-based ancillary services and time-of-day tariffs, are strengthening the commercial case for storage-backed projects. Gentari’s development strategy aligns with this regulatory direction by restructuring projects that remain viable as policies and market mechanisms mature.
Feasible storage options available in the market
Pumped hydro storage
Pumped hydro storage is one of the most established forms of long-duration energy storage. It operates by using surplus renewable electricity to pump water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir and releasing it to generate power during high-demand periods. Its advantages include long discharge durations and stable performance over extended lifecycles. However, pumped hydro projects are capital-intensive, involve longer development timelines, and depend heavily on site-specific geographical and environmental conditions. This makes them most suitable for large, utility-scale applications.
Battery Energy Storage Systems
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) offer speed and operational flexibility. By storing electricity electrochemically, BESS can respond quickly to demand fluctuations, frequency regulation needs, and peak load requirements. Their modular design allows deployment in both utility-scale projects and C&I installations. While lifecycle degradation and recycling remain important considerations, declining battery costs and evolving chemistries continue to improve feasibility. As a result, BESS is increasingly used for peak shifting, firm renewable delivery, and grid-support services.
Integrating storage into existing and new renewable assets
For utilities and large power consumers with operating solar or wind assets, storage integration can provide a pathway to additional value. Through AC- or DC-coupled BESS configurations, storage can be retrofitted without major disruption generation infrastructure. This enables peak shaving, demand charge optimisation for C&I consumers, improved compliance with grid scheduling, and reduced curtailment during high-generation periods.
Gentari uses energy management systems to optimise storage dispatch, balancing technical performance with commercial objectives while maintaining asset reliability.
As the market evolves, renewable projects are increasingly being designed as hybrid systems that combine solar, wind, and storage from the outset. This allows developers to size storage based on load profiles, determine appropriate discharge durations, and plan grid interconnection more effectively. Policy incentives, VGF eligibility, and tariff structures are also factored in early during project planning.
Commercial structures: From capex to tariffs
The economics of storage-backed renewable projects require new commercial approaches. While storage adds upfront capital requirements, it can reduce long-term exposure to price volatility and uncertainty.
Commercial models range from capex-led ownership to storage-as-a-service and PPA-based opex arrangements. For utilities and large C&I customers, RTC and firm power PPAs that bundle energy and storage under a single tariff are gaining traction. Time-of-day pricing and peak-linked tariffs can further enhance value. Gentari structures PPAs to balance bankability and tariff competitiveness, enabling customers to access reliable renewable power without managing technological complexity.
Operationalising storage
Effective storage deployment extends beyond installation. Advanced forecasting, scheduling, and dispatch rely on energy management systems that integrate weather data, load patterns, and market signals. Predictive maintenance and degradation management help support performance consistency across the asset lifecycle.
Gentari operates storage as a core infrastructure asset, with defined performance parameters, availability targets, and accountability frameworks embedded within contractual structures.
Impact: Addressing variability and enhancing value
Storage-enabled renewables directly address the limitations of variable generation by better aligning renewable output with demand patterns, reducing curtailment, and lowering reliance on fossil-based peaking capacity.
Typical utility-scale BESS deployments range from 50 MW / 100 MWh to 250 MW / 1,000 MWh, providing several hours of firming capability. Pumped hydro projects can offer longer discharge durations. For utilities, this can support grid resilience and improved frequency regulation. For manufacturing units, data centres, and fast-moving consumer good (FMCG) companies, storage-backed renewables can improve supply predictability and support decarbonisation targets.
How Gentari translates storage into firm power
In practice, Gentari approaches storage integration by starting with demand intelligence – analysing load curves, peak demand windows, and operational sensitivities. For an industrial customer, this may involve pairing off-site solar with a multi-hour BESS to support evening and night-time demand. For utility-facing projects, hybrid solar-wind capacity may be combined with longer-duration storage to meet RTC or peak supply requirements.
In these models, storage is integrated within a single PPA framework where Gentari develops, operates, and optimises the asset, and customers receive more dispatchable renewable power at a predictable tariff. This integrated approach helps reduce complexity for customers while keeping performance responsibility with Gentari.