GIZ in association with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) organized a study tour to Germany and France on the topic of energy storage systems and floating solar plant from 21 to 29 September The delegation consisted of 14 members from different state agencies namely Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC), Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Private Limited (APSPCL) Uttar Pradesh Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UPJVNL), Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC), Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA), Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL), Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC), Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Ltd (CSPDCL), Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission (CSERC) and officials from SECI & MNRE.

In Germany, the delegation visited the Lithium Iron Phosphate battery storage technology at Pfenning Electrical Systems in Ochsenfurt. The delegation also visited large battery storage facilities of STEAG GmbH as well as battery storage system operated by Westnetz GmbH at Wettringen. The delegation had an interactive session at Fraunhofer UMSICHT at Oberhausen where they got an insight into various novel ideas about energy storage and renewable technologies.

At Essen, a workshop was organised by VGB PowerTech in which the experts from the power technology sector of Germany presented on topics of the battery storage and flexibility in power generation. The representatives from VGB PowerTech, Steag Energy Services GmbH and Energynautics shared their experiences in battery system operations and discussed various business case studies related to energy storage. Furthermore, challenges, opportunities and new energy storage technologies were discussed with the Indian delegation.

In France, the delegation visited Akuo Energy’s O‘MEGA1 floating solar power plant with installed capacity of 17 MW in Piolenc. Given the promising future of floating solar plants in India, the visit was perceived as extremely insightful by the participants.