India’s energy storage market is entering a high-growth phase, with the country expected to require 888 GWh of energy storage system (ESS) capacity by 2035-36 — a dramatic leap from today’s 1 GWh-scale deployment.

 

This is according to the “India BESS Market Review” released by the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) and Customized Energy Solutions (CES) at the opening of India Energy Storage Week 2026 (IESW) in New Delhi.

 

The report positions battery energy storage systems (BESS) as a critical pillar of India’s power sector transformation, enabling grid reliability, renewable energy integration, and the country’s transition towards a cleaner and more flexible energy future.

 

The inaugural session of IESW 2026 brought together leading industry voices, including Nitin Bhatia, Venugopal Rao Maddisetty, Avinash Rao, Nikhil Bhuta, and Suman Nag, along with delegates from 15 countries.

 

Debmalya Sen, President of IESA, said, “IESW 2026 is more than an industry summit; it’s a testament to how far India has come on its clean energy journey. The 888 GWh target by 2035-36 signals a new era where energy storage is at the centre of our energy ambitions. With policy, industry, and innovation converging here in New Delhi, we are building the foundation for a reliable and sustainable future.”

 

Organised by IESA, the three-day event at Yashobhoomi (IICC) is hosting more than 200 exhibitors and over 10,000 industry leaders, with discussions focused on policy, technology, investment, and the next phase of India’s clean energy expansion.

 

Nitin Bhatia, CEO, Radiance Renewables, said, “We believe solar plus battery energy storage is the way forward. If industry, policymakers, and equipment suppliers work together to make batteries more competitive and policies more consistent, there’s a bright future ahead with only increasing growth rates.”

 

India’s battery energy storage capacity has accelerated sharply, rising 11-fold in just six months from 0.78 GWh in December 2025 to 8.7 GWh in the first half of 2026, according to the report. The country is now on track to cross 10 GWh of installed BESS capacity by the end of 2026.

 

The momentum is also visible in project activity, with 47 GWh of ESS tenders issued in H1 2026, taking India’s total ESS tender pipeline to 260 GWh.

 

Tanya Singhal, Vice President, Country Head - India, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet said, “The true measure of success is not just how many gigawatts we install, but how much renewable energy we can actually deliver and utilise. To build a truly flexible and resilient grid, storage must be integrated at the generation, transmission, distribution, and consumption levels.”

 

Eighteen BESS projects have already been commissioned, with merchant BESS installations accounting for 70% of capacity additions in H1 2026.

 

India’s domestic battery manufacturing ecosystem is also expanding rapidly. Current lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing capacity stands at around 2 GWh, while announced plans target approximately 110 GWh by 2030. Cell and pack-to-container manufacturing capacity is expected to reach 180-200 GWh by 2030.

 

Venugopal Rao Maddisetty, Chairman and Managing Director, Pace Digitek, said, Energy storage is now indispensable national infrastructure, enabling renewable energy to become dispatchable, stabilising the grid, and enhancing resilience. This represents one of India’s largest industrial opportunities and a chance to become a global hub for advanced energy storage technologies.”

 

The report highlights that India’s BESS sector has remained resilient despite global supply chain disruptions and rising battery costs, emerging as one of the world’s fastest-growing energy storage markets.

 

Nikhil Bhuta, Director, DC&T (Belding India), said, “Energy storage transforms renewables from weather-dependent instruments into dispatchable, bankable assets. To secure our future, India must build and master storage systems domestically, owning the value chain and setting cost curves for the world.”

 

With expanding manufacturing capacity, supportive policy measures, and a rapidly growing pipeline of storage projects, India is positioning energy storage as the foundation of a reliable, renewable-powered electricity system.