REconnect Summit Focuses on Solar with Battery Storage for India’s Clean Energy Future

As India accelerates towards its target of 500 GW of renewable capacity by 2030, solar power coupled with energy storage is emerging as a critical pillar for delivering round-the-clock green electricity, ensuring grid stability, and unlocking vast untapped renewable potential.

The growing importance of solar-plus-storage was in sharp focus at the REconnect Summit 2025 in New Delhi, organised by Energetica India magazine, where industry leaders, technology pioneers, and policy experts gathered to discuss 'Powering the Grid – Unlocking the Potential of Solar + Storage in India'.

The panel was moderated by Alexander Hogeveen Rutter, Electricity Sector Lead and Research Manager at Third Derivative. Other panelists included Saurabh Kumar, Vice President, The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP India); Arvind Jain, COO of Ornate Solar; Kartikeya Sharma, Co-Founder and CBO of Sunsure Energy; Bharath Rao, Founder and CEO of Emobi; Jharna Saha, Co-Founder and CMO of Enlog; Anil Bohara, Head of System Operation, SCADA, and Distribution Automation Projects at BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd.; and Shobhit Kumar, President – Renewables and COO of Datta Infra.

Panelists discussed investment models, advanced battery chemistries, domestic manufacturing, and the evolving policy, technology, and market landscape shaping India’s storage future.

Saurabh Kumar stressed the urgency of scaling up long-duration storage and adopting innovative financing mechanisms. Calling India a "global laboratory" for renewable integration, he pointed to the country’s rapid solar and wind growth as a unique opportunity to pioneer new grid strategies.

He further added, "Today, energy is primarily controlled by oil. However, in the future, it could be governed by something much simpler. Therefore, it is extremely important for India to focus on alternative battery chemistries, those that minimise dependence on critical minerals. We anticipate substantial demand; between now and 2032, India alone will require nearly 250 gigawatt-hours of battery storage. As we move towards a decarbonized world by 2050, this could be the key to managing a clean power sector."

"Cutting-edge research and automation technologies are absolutely essential. The government’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme is well-aligned with this goal. Regarding costs, current prices are largely controlled by a few entities that hold the essential ores. India’s recent initiatives to develop lithium resources and focus on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry are promising steps. Although prices remain uncertain and volatile over the next five years, they are expected to decline as these developments mature," pointed out Saurabh.

Moving further, Sharma highlighted the improving economics of battery storage, saying, "There are two main drivers for battery adoption: falling battery costs and the widening gap between daytime and peak power prices. Peak demand fulfillment on IEX averages below 30 percent, making BESS a viable peak power solution.”

He highlighted approximately 25 GWh of utility BESS tenders, with DISCOM-managed charging/discharging models. He stressed BESS’s role in avoiding transmission constraints, reducing costs, and the urgent need for better skills to evaluate such projects beyond just price.

Jain showcased niche innovations including Agri-PV, rail-integrated solar, and EV charging integration, urging targeted policy incentives to make these high-cost solutions commercially viable.

On the demand front, Saha presented AI- and IoT-driven optimisation platforms capable of reducing energy consumption in commercial and industrial facilities by up to 23 percent, thereby improving returns on storage investments.

In a sustainability-focused perspective, Rao outlined how repurposing retired EV batteries for stationary grid applications could cut costs and boost the clean mobility transition.

Meanwhile, commenting on designing hybrid systems, Shobhit said, "Battery storage isn’t a new solution; it’s been around for decades, especially in homes facing frequent power cuts when electricity was scarce. Back then, storage was a basic necessity. Over the past ten years, with renewable energy scaling up, residential solar capacity has surged from nearly zero to about 80 gigawatts. Our hybrid system design treats storage as a core asset, not just an add-on. The biggest challenge is meeting peak demand between 6 to 10 p.m., when solar generation stops. Storage must fill this gap by providing reliable power during these critical hours."

"Besides supplying power, battery storage supports grid stability, frequency control, and voltage management. However, policy and regulations haven’t fully caught up to recognise these roles or how to monetise them. For India’s clean energy future, clearer frameworks are needed to unlock storage’s full potential and integrate it seamlessly into the grid," he added.

The panel also addressed supply chain vulnerabilities, warning against over-reliance on a few nations for critical battery minerals and manufacturing, a situation that has led to price manipulation in the solar PV sector. Speakers advocated for rapid development of domestic sodium-ion and other advanced chemistries, alongside manufacturing equipment, and highlighted alternative storage forms such as flow batteries, compressed air, and thermal systems as part of a diversified approach.

Drawing a parallel to India’s near-total railway electrification, Rutter described it as proof of the economic viability of large-scale electrification, offering valuable lessons for industrial decarbonisation.

The discussion concluded with a consensus on incentivising emerging storage technologies through targeted policy, building domestic manufacturing and R&D capacity to secure supply chains, and aligning regulations with market design to accelerate adoption of solar plus storage for clean, reliable, 24/7 power delivery.