India has commissioned around 7.5 GWh of energy storage capacity, while more than 140 GWh is currently under construction, awarded, or in various stages of tendering, Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik announced at the 12th India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2026 in New Delhi.
Addressing the event, the minister emphasized that while India has made significant progress in expanding its energy storage infrastructure, deployment needs to accelerate further to support a flexible and resilient power grid. “India has commissioned around 7.5 gigawatt-hours of storage capacity, while more than 140 gigawatt-hours is under construction, awarded, or under tendering. But if we are to build a truly flexible grid, deployment must accelerate further because the requirement is no longer measured only in gigawatts. It is measured in our ability to respond instantly to changing system conditions,” Naik said.
Highlighting India’s clean energy transition, he noted that over 53% of the country’s installed electricity generation capacity now comes from non-fossil fuel sources. He reiterated the government’s commitment to achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2070. Naik said flagship initiatives such as PM Surya Ghar, PM-KUSUM, and the National Green Hydrogen Mission are reshaping the country’s energy production and consumption landscape. However, he stressed that the rapid growth of renewable energy has also introduced new operational challenges for the power sector.
“For many years, India’s biggest concern was whether we could generate enough electricity. Today, the question has changed. Can we deliver the right electricity at the right time, at the right place? That is the challenge of grid flexibility,” he said.
The minister also referred to a recent paper by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) titled “The Duck and the Camel,” which highlights that the Indian power grid is no longer constrained primarily by generation capacity but increasingly by timing, balancing, and operational flexibility, underscoring the critical role of energy storage in the country’s renewable energy future.
In the three-day, power-packed event, IESW 2026, organised by India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), is expected to bring together more than 10,000 visitors, 1,000 delegates, 200+ exhibitors, and over 100 government officials for over 50 conference sessions and five country pavilions. Event highlights include panels on gigafactories, supply chain resilience, battery chemistries, recycling, urban mining, and a dedicated track for women’s leadership in energy.
Debmalya Sen, President of IESA, said, “India Energy Storage Week continues to set the benchmark for uniting policymakers, innovators, and industry leaders. This year’s focus on manufacturing, supply chain, and recycling is pivotal for India’s ambition to become a global hub for advanced energy storage technologies.”
“Battery energy storage systems are no longer simply backup systems. They are becoming flexibility assets. They absorb surplus renewable energy, reduce curtailment, support frequency regulation, reduce expensive evening ramping, defer transmission investments, improve grid resilience, and make renewable energy truly dispatchable. In simple terms, storage converts intermittent renewable energy into dependable renewable energy. We have introduced viability gap funding for standalone BESS, support through the Power System Development Fund, waiver of ISTS charges, integration of storage with renewable energy projects, recognition of BESS under the infrastructure sector, and the 50 gigawatt-hour Advanced Chemistry Cell Production Linked Incentive scheme, including dedicated capacity for stationary storage,” the minister added.
“India’s opportunity extends far beyond deployment. We must become a global manufacturing hub, not only for battery cells, but for the complete ecosystem comprising battery management systems, energy management systems, power conversion systems, thermal management, fire safety systems, battery recycling, power electronics, and advanced software that will increasingly become the intelligence behind the future grid. This is where India’s engineering capability, digital strength, and manufacturing ambition can converge. While batteries are ideally suited for short-duration balancing and grid flexibility, green hydrogen will play an increasingly important role in long-duration storage and industrial decarbonization. Together, these technologies will strengthen India’s energy security while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuel,” the Minister said.
Vinayak Walimbe, Managing Director, Customized Energy Solutions, said, “The conversations and collaborations at IESW 2026 are accelerating the development of a resilient, sustainable, and inclusive energy storage value chain. With strong government support and private sector participation, India is poised to lead the world in clean energy innovation and deployment.”
As IESW 2026 continues, India’s energy storage sector stands at the forefront of the country’s clean energy revolution, powered by innovation, partnership, and a shared commitment to Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat.
