To boost India's energy storage capacity and reduce import dependence, industry experts are urging the government to implement a unified framework that supports domestic cell manufacturing and secures critical materials.
Key Points
- India faces a significant energy storage supply gap, with domestic manufacturing capacity lagging behind projected demand for advanced chemistry cells (ACC).
- A unified national framework is essential to attract large-scale investments and promote domestic innovation in the energy storage sector.
- The proposed framework should address critical aspects such as raw material pricing, streamlined approvals, robust recycling processes, and stronger local supply chains.
- Policy support is needed to foster innovation, ensure quality, and develop talent within India's energy storage sector to meet global standards.
- Reducing reliance on imports for cells and key materials like lithium and graphite is crucial for long-term competitiveness in the energy storage market.
India Energy Storage Alliance and industry experts have made a case for a unified framework to close the 60 GWh supply gap in domestic cell manufacturing with a view to boosting energy storage capacity addition in the country.
A unified framework is seen as vital to unlock large-scale investments and accelerate domestic innovation, an IESA statement said.
The view emerged at a recently concluded Stationary Energy Storage India (SESI) 2026 conference where industry leaders made a unified call for swift government action to close India's energy storage supply gap.
The sector's future now depends on bold policy moves to boost domestic manufacturing, secure critical materials, and position India as a global clean energy leader, it stated.
According to the statement, the SESI 2026 organised by IESA and Customized Energy Solutions (CES), witnessed the participation of over 450 industry leaders from more than 10 countries.
Addressing the Supply Gap
Debmalya Sen, President of IESA suggested during the SESI 2026 that India's ACC (advanced chemistry cell) ecosystem is at a critical growth stage, with demand for advanced chemistry cells projected at 220260 GWh by 2030 and 800900 GWh by 2035, mainly driven by electric mobility (6070%) and stationary storage (3040%).
Sen stated that domestic manufacturing capacity stands at 150180 GWh, with only ~4050 GWh expected to be operational soon, resulting in a 6080 GWh supply gap and continued reliance on imports for cells and key materials like cathodes, anodes, and electrolytes.
He noted that over 80 per cent of cell components are still imported.
"To address this, we need targeted support for component manufacturing, faster approvals, robust recycling, and stronger local supply chains, especially as over 30% of battery costs come from materials such as graphite and lithium. Timely execution and improved circularity are essential for long-term competitiveness," Sen suggested.
Policy Recommendations for Growth
Kumar M, Founder, Smart Grid Analytics, highlighted that by fostering policies that nurture innovation, quality, and talent development, the government can ensure India's energy storage sector sets new global standards for reliability and performance.
Samir Patel, Chief, Technology and Operations, BESS Energy Division, SPML, emphasised that policy must also address raw material pricing, especially lithium carbonate indexing; relying on China's SMM index leaves the sector vulnerable.
The policy foundation is strong, but now India needs a unified national framework, one that enables seamless, large-scale BESS industrialisation, avoids fragmented state policies, and brings together minerals, testing, skills, and offtake under a single, sustained strategy, he added.
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