At the International Summit on Lithium-Ion Batteries in New Delhi, the Ministry of Heavy Industries announced a 10-gigawatt Request for Proposals (RFP) for large-scale stationary energy storage systems. Organized by the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), the event gathered over 300 industry experts to discuss the future of India’s lithium-ion battery sector, covering areas such as manufacturing, supply chain, electric mobility, recycling, and innovative energy storage solutions.
Vijay Mittal, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Heavy Industries, highlighted the collaboration between the ministry, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), and NITI Aayog to support indigenous manufacturing of advanced chemistry cells. This initiative aligns with India’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and reducing dependence on internal combustion engine vehicles.
India’s battery production capacity is set to surge, thanks to the government’s Advanced Chemistry Cell Production-Linked Incentive (ACC-PLI) scheme, which has already allocated over 40 gigawatt-hours to domestic manufacturers. The industry is expected to see a fivefold increase in investment in the next five years to meet the growing demand for lithium-ion batteries, projected to reach 600-900 gigawatt-hours by 2032.
Debi Prasad Dash, IESA President, emphasized the critical role of lithium-ion batteries in India’s clean energy transition. The summit aimed to foster collaboration and innovation, shaping the roadmap for sustainable energy solutions. Rahul Walwalker, IESA Chairman, noted the rapid growth of global battery production capacity outside China, which is expected to hit 1,000 to 1,500 gigawatt-hours in the coming decade.
As one of the world’s top importers of lithium-ion batteries, India is positioning itself as a key player in advanced energy storage technologies. The nation’s imports of lithium-ion batteries reached $3.59 billion in FY 2023, with a growing domestic industry of over 100 manufacturers serving sectors such as electric vehicles, power electronics, and stationary storage solutions.
