India is making significant strides in its clean energy transition, with over 12,500 MW of battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity currently under tender and another 3,300 MW in the pipeline or already bid out. The announcement was made by Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), at the India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2025.
The government’s aggressive push to scale BESS is aimed at ensuring grid stability and facilitating deeper integration of renewable energy. Currently, India has only 205 MW (506 MWh) of BESS operational, highlighting the magnitude of upcoming deployment.
Adding to the momentum, Union Minister Piyush Goyal called upon the domestic energy storage industry to reduce its dependence on imports from select foreign countries. He emphasized the importance of developing indigenous manufacturing capabilities and robust local supply chains to avoid strategic vulnerabilities.
Goyal’s remarks echoed the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat and underscored the need to build a globally competitive ecosystem for energy storage technologies within India. He urged stakeholders to invest in R&D, foster innovation, and create end-to-end value chains domestically.
Meanwhile, large-scale plans are underway. The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has invited bids for 2,000 MW of solar projects with co-located BESS, and Maharashtra’s MSEDCL has proposed a ₹20,000 crore plan for storage backing 16,000 MW of solar.
As India aims for 24×7 clean power and greater energy security, the convergence of strong policy signals and industrial ambition may mark a turning point in the nation’s energy storage journey.
