India’s Energy Storage Capacity Set to Reach 346 GWh by 2033
IESA has unveiled a key white paper in collaboration with CES at the SESI 2026 conference in Yashobhoomi, Dwarka. The event brought together over 450 industry leaders, policymakers, and global delegates.
March 23, 2026. By News Bureau
The SESI 2026 conference brought together more than 450 industry leaders, government officials, and international delegates from over 10 countries. The event was inaugurated by S.C. Saxena, Chairman & Managing Director, GRID India, who highlighted the government’s commitment to accelerating the adoption of energy storage as a critical pillar of the nation’s renewable energy ambitions. Key dignitaries, including Vinayak Walimbe, Managing Director, IESA and Customized Energy Solutions, Debmalya Sen, President, India Energy Storage Alliance, Richie Stephen, Senior Manager, ULSE, Venugopal Rao, Chairman & MD, Pacedigitek, Mahadevan Srinivasan, Head, BESS (Renewables IC, India), L&T, and Sivakumar Vepakomma, Director -Power Systems, SECI, and others were also present at the inaugural session, setting the stage for dynamic discussions on policy, technology, and market trends.
S.C. Saxena, Chairman & Managing Director, GRID India, said, “India’s power system is experiencing unprecedented ramping and flexibility requirements, with grid demand swings reaching up to 90 gigawatts. In this context, large-scale energy storage is no longer optional. It is essential for a resilient and reliable grid.”
The new analysis highlights how India, propelled by ambitious policy targets and regulatory reforms, is quickly becoming a frontrunner in the deployment of stationary energy storage. Over the past year alone, the sector has seen a surge of 69 new BESS tenders totalling 102 GWh, a 35 percent increase over 2024 and nearly double the annual tender volume. The expanding project pipeline reflects robust investor interest and a rapidly maturing market.
Looking ahead, the report projects that installed stationary storage capacity will surge to 346 GWh by 2033 under the base scenario, rising to 544 GWh if policy momentum continues. Pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) is also gaining steam, with cumulative capacity expected to climb from 7 GW in 2025 to 107 GW by 2033.
Debmalya Sen, President of IESA, remarked, “This white paper is both a milestone and a call to action. It provides the strategic clarity needed for India to realise its vision of 500 GW of non-fossil generation by 2030, with energy storage as the backbone of a flexible and reliable grid.”
The white paper attributes this acceleration to a combination of forward-thinking initiatives, including the rollout of Energy Storage Obligations (ESO), Viability Gap Funding (VGF), and the formal recognition of storage in the Electricity Amendment Rules 2025. Additional incentives, such as 100 per cent ISTS charge waivers, are further strengthening the sector’s investment appeal and bankability.
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