Softbank Energy and Kyocera, two major names in Japan’s solar energy industry, are partnering with utilities, grid operators and other stakeholders to execute virtual power plant (VPP) projects backed by the government.

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), part of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has offered to transfer its lithium-ion cell technology to Indian companies to support them in establishing lithium-ion cell production facilities in India.

An Indian clean energy firm hopes to bring down the cost of lithium-ion cell manufacturing below INR15,000/kWh (US$222) by setting up a facility in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

The sanctioning of a tendering scheme for 2.5GW of hybrid wind and solar capacity in India has included a provision for developers to install any energy storage facility to help power output from such projects.

A prolific trio of major companies in natural gas, energy storage and renewable energy project development have united to take on Asia’s energy storage market, with Japan’s JERA, Australia’s Lyon Group and US-headquartered multinational Fluence announcing a partnership this morning.

Vermont-headquartered inverter supplier Dynapower and Mumbai-based technology firm Raychem RPG have commissioned what they claim to be India’s first 1MW microgrid using solar, diesel and energy storage at a Central Electronics Limited (CEL) facility in Sahibadad, Uttar Pradesh.

South Korea’s Doosan Heavy Industries will install a 70MWh standalone energy storage system at its own facilities in Changwon, as well as a smaller battery installation co-located with solar PV.

Solar Media, the publisher of sites including Energy-Storage.News and PV Tech, has just launched the latest edition of the annual Global Energy Storage Opportunity report for this year – available now as a free download.

Technology provider ABB has inaugurated a microgrid solution at its Vadodora manufacturing facility in Gujarat, India.

The huge increase in demand for safe and reliable batteries to store energy from renewable sources such as solar and wind heralds a new lease of life for advanced lead batteries, argues Dr Andy Bush of the International Lead Association.