The Central government has decided that imports will be reduced under the new Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, 'National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage' for achieving manufacturing capacity of 50 Giga Watt Hour (GWh) of ACC and 5 GWh of 'niche' ACC, at an outlay of Rs 18,100 crore.

ACCs are the new generation of advanced storage technologies that can store electric energy, either as electrochemical or as chemical energy and convert it back to electric energy, as and when required. The consumer electronics, electric vehicles, advanced electricity grids, solar rooftop among others, which are major battery-consuming sectors, are expected to achieve robust growth in the coming years.

While numerous companies have already started investing in battery packs, though the capacities of these facilities are too small when compared to global averages, but there still is a negligible investment in manufacturing, along with value addition, of ACCs in India, said an official statement.

The government said that there is immense potential in shipping, industry, diesel generators etc. Battery storage affects all areas of life. To boost its production in the country, an investment of Rs 45,000 crore will be made in it. Those investing in it will get an incentive of Rs 16,000 crore.

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