Islamabad: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has mandated the government to require battery storage systems for renewable power projects as part of an upcoming auction for 800 MW of renewable energy through wind and solar that will be auctioned to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) this year.
The auction comes after a period of extended delay that is part of the government's efforts to move towards a competitive and affordable energy market. Current renewable sources did not come with a battery storage system requirement. Officials say they are in the process of engaging with the private sector to finalise a bidding schedule.
Facing serious duck curve challenges, the government had decided in July to make battery systems mandatory for bidders as part of the upcoming auction. The duck curve is a graph of electricity demand over a 24 hour period that dips in the middle of the day due to high solar power generation and spikes steeply in the evening as the sun sets and energy use peaks
The regulator approved the move through amendments to the 'wheeling auction process', allowing a technical subsidiary of the power division to formally issue a request for proposals for the first block of the 400MW auction within the current month. Prospective bidders will be required to commit to having battery system that comprises at least 10 percent of their proposed wind or solar capacity, according to the regulator.
