As India’s commercial and industrial (C&I) battery storage capacity rises from 40 MWh to 650 MWh and is projected to reach nearly 4 GWh by FY 2027, the sector continues to face challenges including high upfront costs, evolving regulations, limited financing options and gaps in user awareness.

To address these barriers and support the next phase of market growth, the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) introduced the “BESS for C&I” initiative at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. Through this initiative, IESA aims to enable 300 C&I consumers to adopt energy storage solutions over the next three years.

The initiative will host monthly sessions from October 2026, bringing together industry stakeholders, developers and policymakers to discuss deployment strategies, economics and best practices.

Debmalya Sen, President, IESA, said, “The BESS for C&I platform is designed to address the unique challenges faced by commercial and industrial energy consumers as battery storage becomes essential for grid flexibility and business resilience. No single technology can meet all system needs; collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and innovation across the value chain are critical to accelerating adoption and shaping India’s battery storage future.”

The platform will serve as a dedicated, free workgroup for C&I consumers, enabling them to understand battery storage solutions for managing rising power demand, controlling costs and integrating renewable energy. IESA and industry leaders have called for policy support and targeted incentives to accelerate C&I battery storage adoption.

Bharat Chhittarka, Director, Trex Energy, said, “To make India a global hub for battery manufacturing, we must expedite cell manufacturing and reduce dependence on imported raw materials, which currently account for 60-70% of battery costs. Battery energy storage is essential for managing time-of-day tariffs and accessing clean energy, especially as policies like Maharashtra’s TOD offer major savings. I recommend that all states create clear policies on TOD, energy arbitrage, and peak shaving, following Maharashtra’s example, to accelerate large-scale BESS adoption.”

The community-driven platform will connect industry stakeholders, policymakers and energy users to share information, practical solutions and best practices. Through IESA Connect, the initiative will expand these discussions to cities and industrial clusters nationwide, enabling C&I consumers to contribute towards policy, standards and safety discussions.

Bimal Jindal, CEO, Energy Business, JBM Renewables Private Limited, said, “To make India a global hub for battery manufacturing and supply chain, we must build a complete domestic ecosystem, including component-level manufacturing, securing lithium carbonate and cell production, and investing in R&D. Battery energy storage will be crucial for achieving net-zero goals, reducing long-term operating costs, and enabling the sale of green products internationally, despite initial cost challenges.”

He added that the government may consider increasing the mandated share of BESS deployment across relevant projects and reducing GST on BESS from 18% to 5%, in line with solar panels. The group will also provide access to policy updates, technology trends, pricing insights, B2B meetings, technology tours and masterclasses.

Sushmita R. Ajwani, Head of Business Development (C&I), Aditya Birla Renewables, said, “For India to become a global leader in battery manufacturing, we must move beyond assembly and invest in internal cell manufacturing, backed by strong policy and financial support. Battery storage ensures reliable renewable supply, especially during peak demand. Although prices remain volatile, adoption will grow rapidly with clear regulatory guidelines and targeted incentives or rebates for BESS-backed renewable solutions.”

Despite market growth, battery storage continues to face project cost volatility, with utility-scale capex rising 15% in recent months. Industry stakeholders highlighted the importance of policy support and stronger local supply chains to enable the next phase of transformation.

Inder Bhambra, COO-BESS and Chief Business Officer, India Region, Envision Energy India Limited, said, “To establish India as a global BESS manufacturing hub, we need to develop cell technologies and speed up assembly of DC containers locally, pack onwards. BESS enables an effective arbitrage against the rising peak tariffs and prepares the market for the upcoming new regulations, prescribing storage with every generation asset and mandating grid-forming features.”