India races toward 100 GWh battery capacity by 2026, signals cost parity between solar and storage

India’s battery manufacturing ecosystem is scaling at record pace, with installed capacity touching nearly 60 GWh and set to reach 100 GWh by next year, according to Mr. Nikhil Arora, Director, Encore Systems.

Speaking at the 18th Renewable Energy India Expo and The Battery Show India in Greater Noida, Arora said automation efficiencies are now over 95%, with advanced six-axis robotics handling 625Ah, 12kg cells – a sign of rapid localisation in the energy storage supply chain.

Mr. Arora added that India’s progress in sodium-based battery technology is particularly significant. “Sodium cells are safer, highly recyclable and ideal for grid-scale storage. As storage costs fall from ₹1.77 to ₹1.2 per unit over the next five years, India will reach cost parity between solar and storage, accelerating energy independence.” He highlighted collaborations with IIT Roorkee, NIT Hamirpur and local automation partners to fast-track innovation and technology transfer.

Industry experts echoed the momentum. Boston Consulting Group’s Mr. Ankit Dalmia said advances in LFP, sodium-ion and solid-state batteries could reduce storage costs by up to 40% by 2030. He noted that India’s clean-energy ecosystem represents a US$200–250 billion investment opportunity this decade, driven by targets of 500 GW renewable capacity and 200 GWh of storage by 2030. “AI-driven grid management and digital twins are already improving reliability and cutting system costs by nearly 20%,” he added.

Informa Markets India MD, Mr. Yogesh Mudras, highlighted policy support, noting the Ministry of Power’s ₹5,400 crore Viability Gap Funding scheme for 30 GWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), expected to attract ₹33,000 crore investment by 2028.

The co-located expos underscored India’s growing role in the global energy transition—combining manufacturing scale, innovation partnerships, and ambitious national targets to build a resilient and low-carbon energy future.