Scaling Solar E-Mobility & Storage

The objective of the ISA’s programme on ‘Scaling Solar E-Mobility & Storage’ is to support creation of enabling ecosystem for large scale deployment of energy storage systems and to scale up uptake of solar energy in E-mobility sector in ISA member countries

Under this programme, ISA focuses broadly on two key solutions- Vehicle Integrated Photovoltaic (VIPV) and solar power enabled vehicle charging stations. VIPV refers to integrating solar panels on the roof or on the body of vehicles like motorbikes, passengers 3-wheelers, 3-wheelers cargo, passengers 4-wheelers, buses, trucks, boats etc. Under solar power charged charging stations, ISA plans to focus on battery charging stations, grid connected and stand-alone EV charging stations. Grid connected charging stations are capable of providing grid balancing services. ISA will analyze this particular use case in its member countries.

ISA’s focus remains on different energy storage technologies such as various types of batteries, compressed air energy storage, gravity energy storage, pumped hydro energy storage etc. Assessing the cross cutting issues associated with storage technologies, such as efficiency, safety, reliability, recyclability, remains important. ISA plans to assess suitability of various energy storage technologies to deploy in combination with solar technologies based on various parameters. Going further, ISA envisages to identify and assess feasibility of energy storage deployment for various applications such as off-grid residential use, mini-grids, commercial hybrid systems, grid connected systems in its member countries.

ISA’s programmatic support puts focus on collecting examples to identify success factors and reasons of failure. This shall be examined for replicability in ISA member countries. Capacity development remains yet another important aspect. ISA plans to conduct webinars and training courses for the same. ISA supports its member countries in addressing policy issues and creating enabling regulatory framework for accelerated deployment of e-mobility and energy storage along with providing guidelines for the same. ISA provides support in collating business models and identifying suitable business models for countries. Going further, ISA envisages to support pilot projects implementation in member states.