REconnect Indore: Experts Call for Accelerated Solar, Storage, and Decentralised Energy Push
Amid rapid growth in India’s renewable energy capacity, Energetica India convened the REconnect Summit 2026 in Indore to deliberate on scaling solar, storage, and decentralised energy solutions, with a strong focus on Madhya Pradesh’s evolving role in the clean energy transition.
March 20, 2026. By Mrinmoy Dey
India has also achieved over 50 percent of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources in June, 2025, significantly ahead of its Paris Agreement target. Madhya Pradesh, itself, has reached about 5 GW of installed solar capacity and is targeting 20 GW of RE capacity by 2030.
As solar capacity scales, storage, EV integration and transmission readiness are emerging as critical enablers shaping the next phase of the country’s clean-energy journey. Against this backdrop, Energetica India convened the Indore edition of REconnect Summit 2026, a focused industry forum that brought together policymakers, utilities, EPC players, manufacturers, technology providers and financiers.
During his welcome address, Hemant Arora, Director of Energetica India, emphasised Madhya Pradesh’s growing role in shaping India’s clean energy future, highlighting the state’s progress in solar capacity addition, supportive policies, and increasing focus on storage and decentralised renewable energy solutions.
He noted that Indore, as a leading hub for industry and innovation, provides an ideal platform for advancing discussions on sustainable energy, while underscoring the importance of policy support, private investment, and grid infrastructure in accelerating renewable energy deployment across the state.
Arora added that the summit aims to foster actionable insights and practical solutions to strengthen clean energy adoption, with a focus on solar, storage integration, and decentralised energy systems in Madhya Pradesh and beyond.
During his keynote address, Dr. Umakanta Panda, Commission Secretary of the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (MPERC), who was the Guest of Honour, highlighted Madhya Pradesh’s rapid emergence as a renewable energy hub, underpinned by an estimated 60 GW solar potential, large-scale park development, and a growing pipeline of hybrid and storage-integrated projects.
He noted that the state’s proven execution track record through marquee projects such as the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Park and its replication across Agar, Shajapur, and Neemuch clusters, alongside the operationalisation of over 2.7 GW of solar capacity. He further underscored the rise of next-generation projects, including the Omkareshwar floating solar park, and competitively priced hybrid projects such as the Morena solar-plus-storage tender.
Dr. Panda also pointed to increasing investments and industrial momentum, with NTPC planning up to 20 GW of renewable capacity in the state and proposals for integrated solar manufacturing facilities, while decentralised solar and municipal applications continue to expand demand.
He emphasised that Madhya Pradesh is transitioning towards a cluster-based development model, particularly across the Agar–Shajapur–Neemuch belt, positioning itself as a key driver in India’s renewable energy growth through a balanced mix of utility-scale, hybrid, and storage-backed solutions.
C&I and Residential Solar – Accelerating Distributed Solar Adoption in MP
The first panel discussion of the day highlighted that while Madhya Pradesh has emerged as a strong hub for solar innovation with ample land availability and growing industrial demand, adoption in the distributed solar segment – particularly C&I and residential – remains significantly below its potential.
The session was moderated by Mukesh Kumar, Head – Energy, Moglix. The other panellists were Abhijit Singh Thakur, Business Head, Pickrenew Energy; Jay Karotia, Founder, Karotia Associates; Alok Verma, VP – Project Development, Hexa Climate; and Mahendra Bharaskar, Head of Business Development, Anand E-Beam Cables.
The discussion centred on identifying key barriers to scaling rooftop and decentralised solar, with stakeholders examining whether challenges stem from policy gaps, financing constraints, execution inefficiencies, or lack of consumer trust, and what ecosystem interventions are required to unlock growth.
Panellists noted that while the state’s overall solar capacity has crossed 5 GW – largely driven by utility-scale projects – distributed solar accounts for only about 10–12 percent, indicating substantial headroom for expansion in C&I and residential segments.
Building a Self-Reliant Solar Manufacturing Ecosystem in Madhya Pradesh
The second panel discussion was on ‘Building a Self-Reliant Solar Manufacturing Ecosystem in Madhya Pradesh’ – which was moderated by Parth Pandit, Senior Analyst, Rystad Energy. Other panellists included Ramakrishna Sataluri, CEO, Shakti Energy Solutions, Dr. Umakanta Panda, Commission Secretary, MPERC and Jayesh C. Mistry, Deputy General Manager, Cosmic PV Power.
The panellists highlighted Madhya Pradesh’s attractiveness as a manufacturing destination, supported by a conducive policy environment and a growing project pipeline across regions such as Narmadapuram and Gwalior.
However, for the state to evolve into a leading manufacturing and distributed energy hub, the need for skilled workforce development, advanced testing infrastructure, and greater focus on inclusive workforce participation was emphasised.
The session concluded that the next phase of growth will depend on building a robust, integrated ecosystem that aligns policy, industry, and market demand to accelerate decentralised renewable energy adoption.
Energy Storage – Enabling Reliable and Dispatchable Renewable Energy
The third panel discussion was on ‘Energy Storage – Enabling Reliable and Dispatchable Renewable Energy’. The panellists were Parth Pandit, Senior Analyst, Rystad Energy (who was the moderator); Anirudh Kumar Gupta, CEO, Greenwheels Energy; Manish Tiwari, Founder and Executive Director, CERO Smart Mobility; Rakshanda Lande, Head of Sales and Marketing (West & Central India), Ningbo Deye Inverter Technology; Denzil Swami, Senior Manager, EKI Energy Services and Er. Kumar Abhishek, Regional Manager - North, POM Systems and Services.
The panellists underscored the critical role of energy storage in enabling reliable and dispatchable renewable energy, particularly in addressing grid instability and reducing dependence on diesel generation across commercial and industrial applications.
The discussion highlighted the growing relevance of solar-plus-storage systems, with real-world use cases from sectors such as hospitality and manufacturing where existing solar installations lack storage, leading to continued reliance on DG sets during grid outages. Panellists emphasised that integrating storage can significantly enhance energy independence, cost efficiency, and sustainability.
Participants also pointed to rapid technological advancements in the sector, including improved inverter technologies, with warranty periods increasing from 2–3 years to up to 10 years, reflecting higher reliability and market maturity.
The conversation further explored evolving demand trends across inverter segments, noting a clear shift towards hybrid solutions as awareness and acceptance have improved in recent years. Hybrid inverters are increasingly being deployed across factories, institutions, and even off-grid applications, driven by the need for uninterrupted power and flexible system configurations.
The panel concluded that while innovation in battery technologies and system integration is accelerating, scaling energy storage adoption will require continued policy support, innovative financing models, and greater industry investment to fully unlock its potential across grid, C&I, and mobility applications.
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