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Cabinet approves ₹14,500 crore viability gap funding for 92 GWh of grid-scale energy storage
ஏன் செய்தியில்?
₹14,500 crore for 92 GWh: why VGF funds storage, a GS3 energy topic
Cabinet cleared a ₹14,500 crore VGF scheme for 92 GWh of grid-scale storage over FY 2026-27 to 2030-31.
Why it matters: GS-3 core; factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 நிமிடம்
The Union Cabinet approved a ₹14,500 crore Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme to build 92 GWh of grid-scale energy storage between FY 2026-27 and FY 2030-31.
VGF is a capital subsidy meant to make projects bankable that are socially useful but not commercially viable on their own.
Storage is needed to absorb variable solar and wind output and to supply power after sunset, supporting India's non-fossil capacity targets.
ஆதாரங்கள்: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
முக்கிய உண்மைகள்
Remember these
- Union Cabinet approved a ₹14,500 crore Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme for grid-scale energy storage.
- Target: 92 GWh of storage capacity between FY 2026-27 and FY 2030-31.
- VGF is a capital subsidy for projects that are socially useful but not commercially viable on their own.
- Storage absorbs variable solar and wind output and supplies power after sunset.
- It supports India's target of 500 GW non-fossil electricity capacity by 2030.
ப்ரிலிம்ஸ் · மெயின்ஸ்
How the exam will ask it
ப்ரிலிம்ஸ்
- Viability Gap Funding is a one-time or deferred capital grant that makes socially useful but commercially unviable projects bankable.
- Grid-scale energy storage helps integrate variable renewables such as solar and wind by shifting supply to periods of peak demand.
- The scheme covers 92 GWh of storage over FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31 with an outlay of ₹14,500 crore.
- Storage capacity is measured in GWh (energy), whereas generation capacity is measured in GW (power).
மெயின்ஸ்
GS Paper 3 (Infrastructure/Energy): variable solar and wind output creates a grid-balancing problem and storage costs are high, so the Cabinet has offered ₹14,500 crore VGF to make 92 GWh of storage bankable. The implication is firmer round-the-clock renewable supply and progress towards non-fossil targets, with less reliance on coal peaking plants. The way forward lies in domestic cell manufacturing, transparent tendering, grid-code and market reforms for storage, and recycling of batteries.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
The Union Cabinet's Viability Gap Funding scheme of ₹14,500 crore for grid-scale energy storage, covering FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31, aims to support how much storage capacity?
- 52 GWh
- 92 GWh
- 120 GWh
- 72 GWh
விடையைக் காட்டு
விடை: B — Correct: 92 GWh — The scheme targets 92 GWh of grid-scale storage; this is the figure tied to the ₹14,500 crore outlay. • 52 GWh — wrong: The scheme targets 92 GWh, not 52 GWh. • 120 GWh — wrong: The target is 92 GWh, below 120 GWh. • 72 GWh — wrong: The target is 92 GWh, above 72 GWh.
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