New Delhi: Serentica Renewables, a renewable power company promoted by Sterlite Power, focusing on delivering renewable energy to high-demand industrial sectors, is facing significant challenges in land acquisition and transmission infrastructure development, CEO Akshay Hiranandani said in an interview with ETEnergyWorld. Despite these obstacles, the company is optimistic about the future of battery storage technologies, forecasting a substantial cost reduction in the coming years.
Navigating the complexities of the renewable energy landscape, Serentica is encountering difficulties in acquiring land for project development and matching the rapid pace of renewable generation capacity expansion with the slower growth of transmission infrastructure. “Securing suitable land parcels often requires navigating through a complex web of regulatory requirements, local preferences, and environmental considerations,” Hiranandani said, emphasizing the need for synchronicity between generation and transmission development to ensure the seamless integration of renewable energy into the grid.
Amid these challenges, Serentica Renewables is investing in research and development (R&D) to identify cost-effective battery storage solutions. The company anticipates that the declining costs of battery storage technology will mirror the trends seen in solar module pricing, which has seen a dramatic reduction over the past decade. “We anticipate the emergence of a cost-effective and technically viable solution within the next two to three years,” Hiranandani stated, with the company likely to allocate ₹100 crore towards testing upcoming module and battery storage technologies.
To provide a round-the-clock power supply, Serentica employs a combination of site diversity, pumped hydro storage, and digital optimization tools. The company is also exploring short-duration battery systems and investing in small R&D centers across its plants to evaluate various technologies.
On regulatory measures, Hiranandani commended the government’s initiatives that have facilitated the sector’s growth, such as promoting open access to renewable energy over the central grid without transmission charges. These policies have simplified the grid connection process and underscored the importance of private sector collaboration in driving the renewable energy sector forward.
As Serentica Renewables progresses with its mission to support India’s green energy transition, addressing land acquisition and infrastructure development challenges remains paramount. The company’s investment in R&D for battery storage technologies signifies its commitment to overcoming these hurdles and enhancing the viability of renewable energy solutions.
