The India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), in collaboration with Customized Energy Solutions (CES), is set to unveil a major new industry outlook.
The “India Stationary Storage Market for C&I Applications: Insights Till 2032” report is slated for release at the 12th India Energy Storage Week (IESW) in New Delhi.
The study points to a dramatic expansion of India’s Commercial and Industrial (C&I) energy storage market. Cumulative energy storage system (ESS) installations are projected to surge from less than 1 GWh in 2025 to 23–31 GWh by 2032 — a growth of more than 30 times.
The report links this explosive trajectory to rising electricity tariffs, the need for reliable and high-quality power, rapid renewable energy adoption, cost optimisation pressures, and India’s broader decarbonisation push.
IESW 2026, positioned as a global hub for the clean energy transition, will bring together the full ecosystem spanning e-mobility, battery manufacturing, recycling, stationary storage, and green hydrogen.
The flagship event will host over 200 exhibitors and more than 10,000 industry leaders from 30+ countries at Yashobhoomi (IICC), enabling large-scale networking, policy dialogue, and technical collaboration.
Debmalya Sen, President of IESA, said, “India’s C&I energy storage market is at a pivotal moment. The sector is transitioning from backup and peak shaving to a strategic asset for energy optimisation, resilience, and decarbonisation. The insights from this report will help stakeholders shift from reactive power management to proactive energy leadership.”
The report outlines two growth trajectories: a Business-as-Usual (BAU) scenario, where ESS reaches 22–23 GWh by 2032, and a Rapid Adoption (RA) scenario that pushes installations up to 31 GWh if policy support strengthens and technology costs decline.
BAU assumes 5–6% annual C&I load growth alongside 15% renewable energy CAGR, while RA projects 18% renewable energy CAGR under more supportive market conditions.
Vinayak Walimbe, Managing Director of CES, added, “With regulatory clarity, proven business models, and advanced storage technologies, C&I consumers can now make smarter, data-driven decisions that drive both cost savings and sustainability. Our study equips the industry with the actionable intelligence needed to capture this historic opportunity.”
On the technology front, the report examines a wide spectrum of storage solutions, including lead acid, advanced lead acid, lithium-ion, vanadium-redox flow, sodium-ion, and pumped hydro systems. However, deeper analysis focuses on key chemistries such as LFP, NMC, VRFB, and sodium-ion.
LFP batteries currently dominate the market, while vanadium-redox flow and sodium-ion technologies are emerging as strong contenders for long-duration applications.
The report also highlights a clear industry shift — from backup-focused deployment to application-driven storage, with tailored BESS solutions increasingly used for open access renewable projects, diesel generator replacement, and rooftop solar integration.
Real-world case studies reinforce the business case for storage adoption. These include: 1) DG Optimisation with BTM BESS for Industrial Plant; 2) Solar & BESS at Scale is Replacing Diesel in India’s Leh; 3) Om Shanti Retreat Centre, Bhora Kalan, Gurugram, 2021.
The findings show that a 1-hour duration BESS designed to handle average outage loads with higher cycling delivers stronger payback than larger systems designed for peak loads but with lower utilisation. They also demonstrate that Solar + BESS can effectively replace diesel even in remote, off-grid, high-altitude regions.
The report notes that current PPA tariffs are conservatively priced, and even modest revisions can significantly improve project economics. Together, these examples underline the viability of BESS in outage-prone, diesel-dependent environments, where hybrid solar-storage systems improve both reliability and financial performance.
The report concludes with scenario forecasts, state-wise regulatory analysis, technology benchmarking, and strategic recommendations aimed at energy users, developers, investors, and policymakers.
