US-India Task Force for Energy Storage Collaboration
The US-India Energy Storage Task Force (ESTF), established through cooperation between the US Department of Energy and India's Ministry of Power to advance energy storage technologies in both nations, has commenced its official activities. The task force will inaugurate its operations through a virtual launch event where memberships will be publicly announced. The idea for establishing the ESTF originated from discussions during the October 2022 ministry-level meeting of the US-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP), attended by Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.
Rakesh Kumar, Secretary of the Central Electricity Authority, will co-lead the task force representing India, while Eric Hsieh, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Storage at the US Department of Energy, will co-chair the initiative from the US end. The India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), an industry alliance focused on advancing advanced energy storage, green hydrogen, and e-mobility technologies in India, will act as the Secretariat.
The primary aim of the ESTF aligns with enhancing the objectives of the SCEP by actively contributing to the development and implementation of emerging clean energy technologies, ultimately working toward decarbonizing the energy sector. The task force's focus involves fostering innovation in energy storage through collaborative endeavors such as joint studies, research and development partnerships, technology demonstrations, and pilot projects.
Moreover, the initiative will concentrate on ensuring safety and setting standards for various aspects of energy storage technologies, including production, transportation, deployment, commissioning, recycling, re-use, and disposal. It will assess existing testing facilities and procedures and offer recommendations for establishing testing labs and protocols. Debi Prasad Dash, Executive Director of IESA and Secretary of the ESTF Secretariat, highlighted the task force's role in facilitating technology collaboration between both nations, particularly in manufacturing, supply chain processes, and the adoption of advanced technologies.