India is increasingly turning to advanced energy storage technologies to support a cleaner and more sustainable power system. With solar and wind energy accounting for a growing share of the electricity mix, managing the intermittent nature of these sources has become a critical challenge for grid operators. Energy storage is now recognized as a key solution for storing excess electricity and maintaining grid stability in real time.
In this context, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) of India, in collaboration with the Danish Energy Agency, has released the Indian Technology Catalogue for Energy Storage 2026, providing a standardized framework to assess and compare different storage technologies.
Energy storage systems primarily serve two types of functions: power-intensive services and energy-intensive services. Power-intensive applications require very fast response times, such as frequency regulation and voltage support, where systems must react within seconds or minutes to maintain grid stability. Energy-intensive applications focus on storing electricity for longer durations, enabling time-shifting or energy arbitrage, where power is stored when prices are low and released during peak demand. While pumped hydro storage has traditionally dominated energy-intensive applications, battery-based technologies are now gaining significant traction.
Among electrochemical storage technologies, lithium-ion batteries have emerged as the dominant choice for grid-scale projects. These batteries operate by moving lithium ions between electrodes through a liquid electrolyte during charging and discharging. Two primary chemistries are widely used: Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) batteries, known for high energy density, and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries, recognized for enhanced safety and longer life.
Lithium-ion systems are highly scalable due to their modular design. Individual cells are assembled into modules, which are further combined into racks and large containers. A single 40-foot container typically stores 4–6 MWh of energy. However, lithium-ion batteries have limitations, including gradual loss of charge over time and a lifespan of several thousand to around ten thousand full charge-discharge cycles.
To address cost and sustainability challenges, sodium-ion batteries are advancing toward commercial adoption. Similar to lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion systems use sodium instead of lithium, offering the advantage of abundant raw material availability and lower environmental impact. Large-scale demonstrations have already proven the technology viable.
While sodium-ion batteries offer good safety and low self-discharge rates, they face technical constraints, including lower energy density and slower ion movement at high discharge rates. These characteristics make them suitable for stationary storage and some mobility applications.
As India’s energy storage demand grows, lithium-ion batteries are expected to remain dominant for high-performance applications, while sodium-ion technology is likely to expand as production scales and costs decline. Combined with other storage solutions such as pumped hydro and hydrogen, these technologies will play a crucial role in supporting a renewable-based energy system.
