1/27/22, 10:35 PM India’s PLI Scheme for ACC Battery Storage Manufacturing

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India’s PLI Scheme for ACC Battery Storage Manufacturing

 January 20, 2022 Posted by India Briefing (https://www.india-briefing.com/news/author/india-briefing/) Written by

Naina Bhardwaj (https://www.asiabriefing.com/personnel/naina-bhardwaj.html) Reading Time: 4 minutes

Under the PLI scheme, selected ACC battery storage manufacturers must set up a production facility within two
years. The selection will be done via a competitive and transparent bidding process. The article outlines the PLI
scheme and eligibility criteria as well as how benefits will be rolled out.

On May 12, 2021, India’s central cabinet approved the proposal for the implementation of Production Linked Incentive (PLI)
Scheme ‘National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage’ (NPACC). An outlay of INR 18,100 crore
(US$2.49 billion) has been earmarked by the government towards the scheme, which is intended to establish local
manufacturing capacity of 50 Giga Watt Hour (GWh) of ACC and five GWh of Niche ACC capacity.

The main implementing agencies for the scheme are the Department of Heavy Industries and NITI Aayog.

What are ACCs?

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. They will cater not only to electric vehicles but
also to the consumer electronics industry, solar rooftops, and electricity grids.

How the PLI scheme works to support manufacturing growth

The objective of the scheme is to align battery manufacturing in India with the “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-
Reliant India) initiatives and reduce import dependence.

Under the PLI scheme, ACC battery manufacturers will be selected through a competitive and transparent bidding process,
and selected beneficiaries will have to set up a manufacturing facility within two years.

The incentives under the PLI scheme will be disbursed over a fixed period of five years, from the time of commissioning of the
manufacturing facility. This is expected to achieve economies of scale and boost exports, thereby helping large domestic and
international manufacturers in setting up a globally competitive ACC battery set-up in India. This in turn is important for the
growth of the homegrown electric vehicle (EV) industry (https://www.india-briefing.com/news/electric-vehicle-
industry-in-india-why-foreign-investors-should-pay-attention-21872.html/).

Breakdown of the NPACC Scheme: Key points

Set up 50 GWh manufacturing capacity for ACC batteries by attracting investments totaling INR 45,000 crore (US$6.20
billion).

Each selected ACC battery Storage manufacturer to set-up an ACC manufacturing facility of minimum 5 GWh capacity,
achieve a domestic value addition of at least 25 percent and incur the mandatory investment INR 225 crore (US$31.02
million) /GWh at ‘Mother Unit Level’ within two years.

The ACC battery manufacturer will need to ensure a minimum 60 percent domestic value addition at the Project level
within five years.

The incentive will be disbursed over a period of five years. It will be paid out on the basis of energy efficiency, sales,
battery life cycle, and localization levels.

The scheme proposes that the relevant state government, central government, and manufacturer enter into a tripartite
agreement where the state government will support the private sector by providing land for setting up the facility,
assisting in procuring permits and licenses, providing trunk infrastructure etc.

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Under the scheme, a quality and cost-based selection (QCBS) method will be used to evaluate bids where both the
subsidy quoted and the value addition offered by the bidder would be taken into account during the selection process.
The selection process will be competitive and transparent.

Expected benefits from the scheme

Facilitate demand creation for battery storage in India.

Facilitate Make-in-India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, thereby emphasizing domestic value capture and reduction in import
dependence.

Facilitate demand for EVs, which are proven to be significantly less polluting. One of the key agendas for ACC battery
storage will be to reduce India’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.

Import substitution of around INR 20,000 crore – INR 25,000 crore(US$2.76 – US$3.45 billion) every year, on account of
oil imports as this scheme is expected to accelerate EV adoption in India.

Impetus to research and development to achieve higher specific energy density and cycles in ACC.

Promote newer and niche cell technologies.

Applications under PLI scheme for ACC

The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) released the request for proposal (RPF) under the ACC battery storage program in
India on October 22, 2021. Under the scheme, the manufacturing facility would have to be set up within a period of two years.
Incentives will be disbursed thereafter over a period of five years on sale of batteries manufactured in India.

So far, 10 companies have submitted their bids under the scheme. They are:

Reliance New Energy Solar Limited

Hyundai Global Motors Company Limited

Ola Electric Mobility Private Limited

Lucas-TVS Limited

Mahindra & Mahindra Limited

Amara Raja Batteries Limited

Exide Industries Limited

Rajesh Exports Limited

Larsen & Toubro Limited

India Power Corporation Limited

The selected beneficiary companies will have the liberty to choose suitable advanced technology and the corresponding plant
and machinery, raw material, and other intermediate goods for setting up cell manufacturing facilities.

Support for India’s robust growth sectors

ACC battery manufacturing represents one of the leading economic opportunities for several industrial growth sectors, such as
consumer electronics, EVs, and renewable energy.

The rapidly growing EV industry (https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/13/evage-raises-28m-to-be-a-driving-force-in-indias-

commercial-ev-revolution/?
guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANJjgIJyZIFzF4L4tgzX2xnII3QDQi30P
XKu_pXfeNuU4nZp7c29vcVqbYd79XBOqIKUA5GzRdgXeIwxGUwUT7ZjxQbF2oo9kInY_ECVrqz9Ki5yIbkWW3oPOQqVxFxX-
tzS192Bk7L8aDOuguqIxhaVDoHdiLrlSKYEYG6C), in particular, stands to benefit from this PLI scheme. One of the major
factors contributing towards higher costs of EVs in India is the import of ACC batteries. Another factor that has restricted the
EV industry’s growth is lack of supporting infrastructure like charging stations, which is now becoming prioritized
(https://www.india-briefing.com/news/electric-vehicle-industry-in-india-why-foreign-investors-should-pay-attention-
21872.html/#policymeasuresHeader) by the government. ACC batteries, which display the capability of energy storage, can
also be key to achieving the goal of round-the-clock supply of power from renewable energy.

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1/27/22, 10:35 PM India’s PLI Scheme for ACC Battery Storage Manufacturing

The NPACC PLI scheme will aid local capacity building in core competent technologies to make India a hub of clean energy. It
will reduce excessive dependence on imports, including from China. A boost to local employment is another vital outcome.

This article was first written on May 28, 2021. It was last updated on January 20, 2022. 

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