JVVNL and Global Energy Alliance plan sodium-ion BESS in Jaipur. JVVNL and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet signs MoU to develop a 250 kW/250 kWh sodium-ion battery storage pilot to assess peak-load management and rooftop solar utilisation at K.L. Saini Stadium in Jaipur. October 29, 2026. By News Bureau Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam (JVVNL) and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (Global Energy Alliance) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop India's first sodium-ion Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) pilot at the distribution-transformer level. Following the MoU, the two organisations issued a Request for Proposal (RfP) at the Distribution Utility Meet (DUM) 2026 for the 250 kW / 250 kWh pilot at K.L. Saini Stadium in Jaipur. The initiative will assess the performance and potential applications of sodium-ion storage in managing local peak demand and improving the utilisation of rooftop solar generation. The pilot will test sodium-ion battery technology under actual distribution-network conditions, including Rajasthan's high summer temperatures. By locating storage at the distribution-transformer level, the project will assess whether batteries deployed closer to electricity consumers can help manage peak loading, make better use of locally generated solar power and potentially defer certain network upgrades. The project will also examine sodium-ion technology as an alternative to established battery chemistries, particularly lithium-ion. Under the MoU, JVVNL will provide the project site, a dedicated team and operational data and the Global Energy Alliance will provide technical support across system design and performance monitoring, and train JVVNL engineers. The two organisations will document and share the findings to help other distribution companies assess the suitability of sodium-ion storage for their networks. Commenting on the initiative, Arti Dogra, Energy Secretary, Government of Rajasthan and Chairperson, Rajasthan DISCOMS, said, "As renewable energy generation grows in Rajasthan, the strain shows first at the local transformer. This pilot lets us test on our own network and in our own climatic conditions, whether storage that avoids lithium can ease that strain. What we learn will help us plan storage across the network with more confidence." The pilot will assess the technical efficiency and reliability of sodium-ion storage on a working distribution network, including its performance in Rajasthan's summer heat; its potential to reduce transformer peak loading and improve solar-energy utilisation; and its safety performance, including thermal behaviour and risks associated with thermal runaway. It will also examine costs, degradation and lifecycle benefits against established battery technologies, particularly lithium-ion and conventional network upgrades. The findings will provide a basis for evaluating where sodium-ion storage could be a technically and commercially viable option for Indian distribution utilities. The objective is to establish evidence from field operations rather than presume the superiority of one battery chemistry over another. Tanya Singhal, Vice President and Country Head - India, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, said, "Storage will be central to India's grids, and utilities should have more than one credible chemistry to choose from. Testing sodium-ion on a working transformer in Rajasthan's conditions gives utilities evidence instead of assumptions. We are glad to do this with JVVNL and to share what we learn with DISCOMs across India." The initiative builds on the existing partnership between JVVNL and the Global Energy Alliance. By combining network-level insights with a field demonstration of emerging storage technology, the pilot will generate practical evidence to inform future decisions on distributed energy storage and distribution-grid modernisation in India.

SI and Duke University win multi-year MEL contract with the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) has awarded Social Impact, in partnership with Duke University, a multi-year contract to provide monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) services across its global portfolio. GEAPP works to expand renewable energy access and support the clean energy transition in emerging economies. Under the contract, SI will help GEAPP strengthen its MEL systems as its portfolio grows, provide tailored MEL support to its country teams, and generate evidence on how its investments are performing. This includes evaluation work under GEAPP's Grids of the Future initiative and case studies that document results from investments in areas such as battery storage and grid modernization. The partnership builds on SI's two decades of energy sector evaluation work for clients including the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the World Bank, and USAID. Duke University's energy researchers bring expertise in energy access, grid reliability, and energy data analytics.

Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet's Sun to Sea initiative gains momentum with new support for Indonesia's coastal communities. 26.10.2026 Growing support from development and philanthropic partners, government and the private sector to connect clean energy with sustainable fisheries, livelihoods and coastal resilience. US$1.5 million in technical assistance approved by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through the Energy Access and Transition Trust Fund will support the development and testing of solutions across 20 Sun to Sea pilot sites in Indonesia. Bangkok, Thailand | October 27, 2026 - On the sidelines of AsiaXchange 2026, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (Global Energy Alliance) announced further progress under its Sun to Sea initiative in Indonesia, with growing engagement from development partners, government, philanthropy and the private sector. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved US$1.5 million in technical assistance through the Energy Access and Transition Trust Fund to support activities across 20 Sun to Sea pilot sites in eastern Indonesia. The support will help generate practical evidence on clean energy systems, productive-use applications, community resilience, ecosystem restoration, operating models and financing approaches that can inform future scale-up. "Indonesia's coastal villages need energy that does more than keep the lights on. It has to power livelihoods and hold up financially over time. Sun to Sea gives us a practical way to test which renewable energy, cold-chain and operating models work in different village contexts, and what communities, government, and the private sector each need to bring to make them last. The lessons from these pilots can help inform how we support community-driven development in Indonesia at a larger scale," said Nianshan Zhang, Director General, Southeast Asia Department, Asian Development Bank. Building on their shared interest in supporting coastal development, the Directorate General of Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fishery Products, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia, and Global Energy Alliance have expressed their intention to explore collaboration under Sun to Sea. The initiative also witnessed support from the Tsao Family Foundation, a member of the Just Energy Transition Community (JETC), a philanthropic coalition convened by Philanthropy Asia Alliance. The Tsao Family Foundation brings a systems-level perspective to Sun to Sea, recognizing the interconnectedness of clean energy access, community wellbeing, sustainable livelihoods and healthy ecosystems. Together, the Tsao Family Foundation and other JETC members have committed a combined US$1.1 million to support the first year of Sun to Sea in Indonesia, strengthening the initiative's funding base as it moves forward. The initiative is also attracting early private-sector engagement. Local businesses and potential investors can play an important role in identifying commercially viable opportunities and supporting sustainable implementation. Businesses operating within coastal economies bring an understanding of local markets, fisheries value chains and the needs of fishing communities. Their involvement can help identify opportunities for clean energy to improve productivity, reduce post-harvest losses and generate greater value locally. The Sun to Sea initiative is designed to use decentralized clean energy to address multiple needs within coastal communities and support a range of local livelihoods. Solar and battery-based energy systems can power productive activities and essential services, including fisheries, mariculture and agriculture. Solar-powered cold chains and drying systems can strengthen value chains, reduce post-harvest losses and create opportunities for greater local value addition. The approach also explores opportunities linked to ecotourism and ecosystem restoration, alongside measures to strengthen community resilience. Woochong Um, Chief Executive Officer, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet said: "Sun to Sea is built on the belief that the energy transition can be a powerful enabler of broader development; from strengthening livelihoods and food systems to building resilience in communities that are particularly exposed to climate and economic pressures. Addressing these interconnected challenges requires collaboration across philanthropy, development partners, government, businesses and local communities. Through partnerships that bring together complementary perspectives and expertise, we have an opportunity to demonstrate how clean energy can support more productive and resilient coastal economies and develop approaches with the potential to work at a much greater scale." Indonesia's extensive coastline and large coastal population make the country an important context for demonstrating how clean energy can contribute to more resilient and productive coastal economies. Sun to Sea will explore solutions that are technically viable, commercially sustainable and responsive to the needs of local communities, while generating practical lessons to inform future replication. About the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet is a global non-profit that builds public, private and philanthropic partnerships to accelerate clean energy and economic opportunity. Founded in 2021 by The Rockefeller Foundation, IKEA Foundation and Bezos Earth Fund, Energy Alliance build the technical, financial and institutional foundations that make clean energy investable and scalable across emerging economies. Its work is anchored in two mutually reinforcing global pillars that together address the market fragmentation that has historically slowed down progress on energy access and economic development. Grids of the Future strengthens energy supply through AI-enabled, renewables-ready power grids. Powering Opportunity builds demand, helping people harness clean energy to power businesses, create jobs and drive economic growth. Together, these pillars create a reinforcing cycle of abundant energy and economic opportunity. With 130 projects across Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, Energy Alliance is on track to reach 91 million people with clean energy, create or improve more than 3 million jobs and prevent nearly 300 million tons of carbon emissions. For more information, please visit www.energyalliance.org and follow Energy Alliance on LinkedIn. For press queries, please contact: Vaishali Mishra Director - Asia Communications and Global Special Projects [email protected]