Rajasthan is set to pilot India’s first distribution-transformer-level sodium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS), as Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JVVNL) and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet join hands to evaluate the technology under real-world grid conditions. The initiative aims to assess whether sodium-ion batteries can help distribution utilities manage peak electricity demand, improve rooftop solar utilization and strengthen local power networks.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the two organizations have issued a Request for Proposal (RfP) at the Distribution Utility Meet (DUM) 2026 for a 250 kW / 250 kWh sodium-ion battery storage pilot at K.L. Saini Stadium in Jaipur. The project will examine the potential of deploying energy storage closer to consumers to address distribution-level challenges and support renewable energy integration.
Sodium-Ion Batteries to Be Tested Under Rajasthan’s Climate
The pilot will evaluate the performance of sodium-ion battery technology under actual distribution-network operating conditions, including Rajasthan’s high summer temperatures. Installing the system at the distribution-transformer level will allow the project partners to assess its ability to reduce peak loading, improve the use of locally generated rooftop solar power and potentially delay investments in distribution network upgrades.
The project will also examine sodium-ion batteries as an alternative to established storage technologies, particularly lithium-ion batteries. The assessment will cover technical efficiency, operational reliability, safety, costs, battery degradation and lifecycle performance to determine the technology’s suitability for Indian distribution companies.
A key area of evaluation will be the battery system’s thermal behaviour and safety during extreme heat. The pilot will also investigate potential thermal runaway risks and the system’s ability to maintain reliable operations under challenging environmental conditions.
JVVNL and Global Energy Alliance Define Project Responsibilities
Under the agreement, JVVNL will provide the project site, a dedicated team and operational data to support the pilot’s implementation and assessment. The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet will provide technical assistance for system design and performance monitoring, along with training for JVVNL engineers.
Both organizations will document and share the project findings to help other distribution utilities understand the technical and commercial feasibility of sodium-ion battery storage. The results are expected to provide field-based evidence for utilities considering distributed energy storage as part of their grid modernization plans.
Arti Dogra, Energy Secretary, Government of Rajasthan and Chairperson of Rajasthan DISCOMs, said the pilot would help evaluate storage technologies that do not depend on lithium and determine their effectiveness in addressing distribution-level challenges under local climatic conditions.
She highlighted that the increasing share of renewable energy in the electricity mix can place additional pressure on local distribution infrastructure, particularly transformers. The pilot’s findings will help utilities assess suitable storage solutions and make better-informed decisions about future deployment.
Pilot to Assess Costs and Grid Benefits
Beyond technical performance, the project will compare the costs, degradation characteristics and lifecycle benefits of sodium-ion batteries with those of established battery technologies and conventional distribution network upgrades. The assessment will focus on actual operating results rather than assuming that one battery chemistry offers an advantage over another.
Tanya Singhal, Vice President and Country Head – India at the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, said testing sodium-ion technology on an operating distribution transformer would generate practical evidence to support storage-related decisions by utilities. She added that the findings would be shared with distribution companies across India.
The pilot builds on the existing collaboration between JVVNL and the Global Energy Alliance, which includes work on digital twins to improve understanding of electricity distribution networks. JVVNL is also a Champion Utility under the alliance’s India Grids of the Future Accelerator, an initiative focused on improving network efficiency, renewable energy integration and electricity supply reliability.
The project is expected to provide insights into the technical and commercial viability of sodium-ion battery storage for Indian distribution utilities. Its findings could inform future deployment strategies for distributed energy storage, rooftop solar integration and distribution-grid modernization as electricity demand rises and renewable energy capacity expands.
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