India must scale up battery storage to keep pace with renewables, experts say

India's renewable energy buildout is running ahead of its ability to store the power it generates. Experts say battery storage now needs to grow at the same pace, The Times of India reported on Saturday.

The gap matters because solar and wind output rises and falls with the weather and the clock. Without storage, that variability puts pressure on the grid and can leave clean power curtailed when demand is low.

Why storage is the sticking point

India has added solar and wind capacity at a brisk clip, but grid-scale batteries have lagged. Storage systems charge when generation is high and discharge during peak demand, smoothing the supply and making round-the-clock renewable power possible.

Experts quoted in the report argue that scaling batteries alongside new renewable projects is the practical way to keep the grid steady as the share of variable power climbs. Building generation without matching storage, they suggest, leaves value on the table.

• Battery storage helps balance supply when solar and wind output dips.
• Storage can reduce curtailment of clean power during low-demand hours.
• Pairing storage with renewables supports firm, dispatchable supply.

What the experts are calling for

The push is for policy and investment to treat storage as a core part of the energy plan, not an afterthought. That means more grid-scale battery capacity coming online in step with new solar and wind farms.

The report does not put a figure on the storage shortfall or set a deadline. It does make the direction clear: generation and storage have to move together.

For a grid that is adding renewables quickly, the question is less about whether batteries are needed and more about how fast they can be built. Experts say the answer will shape how much of India's clean power actually reaches consumers.