Ratul Puri on India’s Renewable Energy Growth and the Role of Battery Storage

India’s renewable energy sector is witnessing significant growth, with solar and wind power playing an increasingly important role in meeting the country’s electricity demand. As renewable capacity expands, an equally important consideration is ensuring that this power can be supplied reliably and efficiently at different times of the day. This makes battery energy storage an important part of India’s energy transition.

Solar power is expected to account for a major share of renewable capacity additions in the coming years. However, solar generation is concentrated during daylight hours, while electricity demand often remains high in the evening. This difference between the timing of generation and consumption creates a need for solutions that can store surplus electricity and make it available when required.

“India has made considerable progress in expanding its renewable energy capacity. We must now ensure that this power is available when consumers and businesses need it,” Mr. Ratul Puri said.

Battery energy storage systems can help address this challenge by storing electricity generated during periods of high solar output and supplying it during evening peaks or when renewable generation is lower. They can also support grid balancing, improve the use of existing transmission infrastructure and reduce the risk of renewable power being curtailed.

The scale of activity in this segment is growing. More than 14 GW of standalone battery storage capacity was awarded through tenders during 2024-25. While the installed utility-scale battery storage base stood at around 350 MW at the beginning of 2026, annual capacity additions could reach 6-8 GW by 2030. These developments point to the growing importance of storage in supporting a power system with a higher share of renewable energy.

“Battery storage can help bridge the gap between when renewable power is generated and when it is needed. It will be important for managing peak demand and maintaining stability in the grid,” Mr. Ratul Puri added.

Both standalone and co-located storage projects have an important role to play. Battery systems paired with solar and wind projects can help make renewable power more predictable and useful to the grid. Standalone battery projects can provide additional services such as balancing supply and demand, managing congestion and supporting grid operations.

Policy support, including viability gap funding covering up to 40% of capital costs and transmission charge waivers for eligible projects until June 2028, is helping improve the viability

of battery storage investments. However, project execution remains an important consideration. Delays in grid connectivity, financing, equipment procurement and commissioning can affect the timely addition of storage capacity.

“Building storage capacity will require a coordinated effort across project development, financing, equipment supply and grid connectivity. Timely execution will be as important as the capacity announced,” Mr. Ratul Puri said.

India’s renewable energy ambitions will require sustained investment in generation, transmission and storage. Solar and wind power can contribute significantly to meeting the country’s growing electricity requirements, while battery storage can help make their supply more dependable. Bringing these elements together through sound planning, effective policy support and timely project execution will be essential to building a reliable and sustainable power system.

“India has an opportunity to make renewable energy a larger and more dependable part of its electricity mix. Strong execution across generation, transmission and storage will be key to realising this opportunity,” Mr. Ratul Puri added.

About Ratul Puri

Ratul Puri is the Chairman of Hindustan Power, an integrated power generation company with a strong presence in renewable and transitional energy generation. Over the years, Ratul Puri has been involved in the development of large-scale energy infrastructure projects that support India’s growing power requirements and its transition toward cleaner energy sources.

For more information visit:

https://ratulpuri.in/