Powering the 50% Renewable Energy Milestone
Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday said India is on track to reach 50% renewable energy share in its total installed capacity of 472 gigawatts by the end of this year but emphasized that energy storage systems are essential for grid stability and 24/7 clean power supply.
Speaking at the 11th edition of the India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2025, Khattar said, “India has made significant strides in its energy generation efforts. Currently, we have reached almost 50% of our total generation capacity of 472 gigawatts, and by the end of this year, India is on the track to achieve the 50% renewable energy milestone of 472 gigawatt. However, to stabilize our grid, optimize power generation, and ensure 24/7 reliable clean energy, establishing an energy storage system is essential to meet our targets.”
Falling Storage Costs to Strengthen India’s Power Sector
Referring to international benchmarks, Khattar noted, “According to IAEA estimates, the world will need to increase its energy storage capacity sixfold by 2030 to achieve these goals. Our target is ambitious, and we must focus on enhancing energy storage capabilities. In the past three to four years, the cost of energy storage has significantly decreased. What was once Rs 10 lakh per megawatt has now fallen to Rs 2.5 lakh per megawatt per month, indicating a reduction to one-fourth of the original cost.”
Image by AzoNano
Powering the Green Hydrogen Revolution
He added, “As industries like steel and cement shift towards green hydrogen, India is pushing for energy independence to reduce oil dependency. With a green hydrogen mission backed by Rs 19,744 crore, the country seeks to produce 10 million metric tons of green hydrogen and establish an electrolyzer capacity of 60 to 100 gigawatts. This initiative highlights India’s determination to lead in next-generation fuel production.”
The event, hosted by the Indian Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), featured top officials and industry leaders. CEA Chairperson Ghanshyam Prasad shared that while India currently has only about 205 MW (506 MWh) of battery storage, there’s 3,300 MW in the pipeline and 12,500 MW under tender. He stressed the need to ramp up capacity to 74 GW by 2031-32.
On hydro storage, Prasad said, “This year, the government aims to target approximately 3,000 MW of hydro PSP capacity and is working towards increasing the total pumped storage project capacity to 50 GW in the coming years. The challenge is to raise the current hydro pumped storage capacity from 5 GW to 50 GW within the next 5 to 6 years. We recognize this is a significant challenge, and we are actively working towards achieving it.”
Also present were Shri Manu Srivastava, Additional Secretary, MP Renewable Energy Department, and senior executives from the private sector including Gautam Reddy (CEO, AM Green), Sivaprasad Manikkapurath (President, Renew Power), and Rajat Seksaria (CEO, Adani New Industries).
The four-day IESW 2025 event will highlight over 300 new product innovations spanning energy storage systems, electric vehicles (EVs), advanced batteries, solar technologies, and green hydrogen solutions. In addition to product showcases, manufacturers are expected to make significant announcements about plans for new factories and expanded product lines. A major focus will be on cutting-edge battery technologies, including lithium-ion, sodium-ion, and lithium-sulfur batteries, which are poised to play a crucial role in the future of sustainable energy and mobility.
