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India's Energy Storage Capacity to Skyrocket 346-Fold by 2033: Report

India's stationary energy storage sector is poised for explosive growth, with a new report projecting cumulative installed capacity to leap from under 1 GWh today to 346 GWh by 2033. The sector has seen a 35% annual increase in tenders, with 69 new Battery Energy Storage Systems projects announced in the past year alone. Alongside battery storage, pumped hydro capacity is also expected to expand dramatically, from 7 GW to 107 GW over the same period. This rapid expansion is fueled by supportive policies, falling costs, and is critical for integrating India's target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity.

Key Points: India's Energy Storage to Hit 346 GWh by 2033

  • Record 92 GWh of BESS projects in pipeline
  • 69 new tenders issued in past year
  • Pumped hydro to grow from 7 GW to 107 GW by 2033
  • Policy support driving rapid adoption
2 min read

India's energy storage capacity set for multi-fold jump by 2033: Report

Report projects India's stationary energy storage capacity to surge from under 1 GWh to 346 GWh by 2033, driven by policy and investment.

"Installed stationary storage capacity will surge to 346 GWh by 2033 under the base scenario - India Energy Storage Alliance Report"

New Delhi, March 20

India's stationary energy storage sector is witnessing rapid growth, with the total capacity of Battery Energy Storage Systems projects in the pipeline reaching a record 92 GWh, according to a report released on Friday.

The report by the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), also projected that cumulative installed capacity -- currently below 1 GWh -- could surge to 346 GWh by 2033.

The sector has seen a sharp rise in activity, with 69 new BESS tenders totalling 102 GWh issued over the past year, marking a 35 per cent increase over 2024, according to the report.

"Installed stationary storage capacity will surge to 346 GWh by 2033 under the base scenario, rising to 544 GWh if policy momentum continues," it said.

It further said pumped hydro energy storage is also expected to grow significantly, with capacity projected to increase from 7 GW in 2025 to 107 GW by 2033.

S.C. Saxena, Chairman and Managing Director of GRID India, said large-scale energy storage is becoming critical as India's power system faces increasing demand fluctuations.

He added that falling costs and supportive policies are driving the rapid adoption of battery and pumped hydro storage solutions.

Debmalya Sen, President of IESA, said the white paper provides a roadmap to support India's target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, with energy storage playing a central role.

The report attributed the sector's growth to policy measures such as Energy Storage Obligations, Viability Gap Funding and regulatory support, including transmission charge waivers, which have improved investment viability.

With nearly 5 GWh of new capacity expected to be commissioned in 2026, the sector is set for a major expansion phase, positioning India as a key player in the global energy storage landscape.

The report was presented at the Stationary Energy Storage India (SESI) 2026 conference.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

A
Aman W
From below 1 GWh to potentially 544 GWh? That's a massive leap. Shows what focused policy can achieve. The Viability Gap Funding is a smart move to attract private investment. Let's hope the execution matches the ambition.
R
Rohit P
Good step, but my concern is the environmental cost of manufacturing all these batteries. Where will the lithium/cobalt come from? We need a parallel push for recycling and alternative chemistries like sodium-ion.
S
Sarah B
As someone working in the renewables sector, this report is very encouraging. The 69 new tenders show real market momentum. Pumped hydro from 7 GW to 107 GW is equally impressive. This is how we build a resilient grid for summer peaks.
K
Karthik V
Hope this creates lots of skilled jobs for our engineers and technicians. We have the talent, we just need the projects. Make in India for energy storage! 🔋⚡
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Nikhil C
The numbers sound great on paper. My respectful criticism is that we often announce big targets but implementation gets delayed due to land acquisition, clearances, and bureaucratic hurdles. Hope this time it's different.

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