India’s Energy Storage Requirement May Reach 888 GWh by 2035-36

India’s energy storage requirement is projected to reach 888 GWh by 2035-36, against an installed base of about 1 GWh. The projection appears in the latest India BESS Market Review and matches the Central Electricity Authority estimate of 174 GW/888 GWh for the same period.

Energy Storage Systems in India

Energy storage systems (ESS) store electricity for later use and include Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs). The Central Electricity Authority projects 80 GW/321 GWh from BESS and 94 GW/567 GWh from PSPs in the 2035-36 requirement.

Battery Energy Storage Systems and Installed Capacity

India’s installed BESS capacity rose from 0.78 GWh in December 2025 to 8.7 GWh in the first half of 2026. The installed battery energy storage capacity is expected to cross 10 GWh by the end of 2026.

Tender Pipeline and Manufacturing Capacity

During the first half of 2026, 47 GWh of energy storage system tenders were floated in India. The cumulative ESS tender pipeline has reached about 260 GWh, while lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing capacity is around 2 GWh.

Battery Manufacturing Plans

Announced plans place India’s lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing capacity at about 110 GWh by 2030. Cell and battery pack-to-container manufacturing capacity is projected to reach 180 GWh to 200 GWh by the end of the decade.

Important Facts for Exams

• Battery Energy Storage Systems store electrical energy in rechargeable batteries and are used in grid balancing and renewable integration.
• Pumped Storage Projects use surplus electricity to pump water to a higher reservoir and generate power when needed.
• The India Energy Storage Alliance is an industry body associated with the energy storage sector in India.
• The Central Electricity Authority is a statutory body under the Ministry of Power.

Renewable Energy Linkage

India’s energy storage expansion is linked with renewable energy integration and grid reliability. The 2035-36 projection of 888 GWh includes both battery storage and pumped hydro storage.