Power packed show
The 17th edition of the Renewable Energy India (REI) Expo and the second edition of The Battery Show India provided a dynamic platform for the convergence of the renewable energy, battery storage, and electric vehicle (EV) sectors, fostering collaboration and innovation across both industries. The co-located shows were organised by Informa Markets.
The event was attended by key dignitaries who presented their plans for the energy sector. These included Heera Lal Nagar, Minister of State, Energy Department, Government of Rajasthan; Manu Srivastava, Additional Chief Secretary, Power and Renewable Energy Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh; Shantanu Jaiswal, Head of India Research, Bloomberg NEF; Alex Whitworth, Vice President & Head of Asia Pacific Power & Renewables Research, Wood Mackenzie; Peter Hall, President, IMETA Region, Informa Markets; Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets; and Rajneesh Khattar, Senior Group Director, Energy Portfolio, Informa Markets.
This year’s edition of Renewable Energy made a significant impact with the participation of over 700 exhibitors, representing a diverse blend of domestic and international stakeholders, including key delegations from Germany and the Middle East. Showcasing more than 850 brands, the event attracted over 50,000 trade visitors. The two events received support from organisations including the Indian Biogas Association (IBA), National Highway for Electric Vehicles (NHEV), Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW), JMK Research, Bridge to India, Rajasthan Solar Association, and Indo-German Energy. Meanwhile, The Battery Show featured over 300 brands, 75 distinguished speakers, and attracted more than 15,000 visitors across the value chain. Prominent exhibitors included Parker Lord, Saint-Gobain, Thermo Fisher, iPower Batteries, Rubamin, Siemens, Asahi Kasei, Altmin, Dow Chemicals, Gujarat Fluorochemicals EV, Total Energies, Encore Systems, BASF, Marposs, and Arkema. The solar, biogas, and battery storage industries are poised for breakthrough growth as major players announce their expansion plans.
Power of solar
“Rajasthan plays a pivotal role in driving India’s renewable energy ambitions, contributing significantly towards the nation’s 500 GW target set by our Prime Minister. With its expansive desert areas now harnessed for solar and wind power, Rajasthan has transformed its geographic challenges into an energy boon. Currently, the state produces 20,000 MW of solar energy, using only 5,000 MW locally, while the rest is supplied across the country. Additionally, we have taken steps to further scale this, with planned investments of Rs5 lakh crore in the energy sector over the next 4-5 years,” said Heera Lal Nagar.
“India’s renewable energy sector has made tremendous strides, with the Rewa, Madhya Pradesh project marking a key moment by reducing solar energy costs below coal without subsidies. Now, the focus is on proving that solar-plus storage can outperform thermal power in cost-effectiveness. Current tenders for both thermal and solar-plus-storage projects are testing this, with a large-scale 600 MW solar and 880 MWh battery project designed to provide a steady tariff across 24 hours. This model, supported by insights from Berkeley University, optimises battery performance through two daily charge-discharge cycles – using solar energy for evening peaks and grid power to charge overnight for morning peaks,” explained Manu Srivastava.
Globally, electricity’s share in final energy demand is projected to rise from 20 per cent to 31 per cent by 2050, and in a net-zero scenario, it must exceed 50 per cent. For India, developing both its fossil fuel and electric economies is critical to meet rising demand. With solar now a core part of India’s energy mix, integrating storage is essential for driving economic growth and ensuring energy sustainability.
Adds Alex Whitworth: “India’s role in the global energy transition is becoming increasingly prominent as its economy has overtaken the UK, surpassed France, and is on track to overtake major markets like Germany and Japan within the next 5-10 years. With a GDP growth of 7 per cent and power demand rising by over 8 per cent this year, India is now the third-largest power market globally, and its energy demand is set to triple by 2050, making it a critical investment destination.”
Renewables are expanding rapidly, with over 200 GW of solar and wind capacity expected by 2030. India’s emergence as the second-largest solar module manufacturer, exporting to key global markets, highlights its potential. However, 70 per cent of India’s power still comes from coal, with 50 GW of coal and 10 GW of nuclear expected by 2030. In a net-zero scenario, electrification would need to exceed 50 per cent, a crucial focus for India as it balances its development of fossil fuel and electric economies in parallel to meet its growing energy demands.
In a significant move towards promoting sustainable energy and local manufacturing, Japanese firm Kanemasa and Indian solar tech company SolarfiX India signed a Memorandum of Understanding to transfer technology under the Make in India initiative on the sidelines of the show. The partnership aims to manufacture solar technology in Uttar Pradesh, focusing on enhancing India’s solar capacity and contributing to the nation’s ambitious renewable energy goals. The JV targets 10 GW of solar capacity by 2030, estimated to generate a revenue of $1.5 billion.
“The year 2023 marked an unprecedented climate milestone. For the first time, global surface temperatures exceeded 2°C above pre-industrial levels for several days. What’s more concerning is that greenhouse gas emissions have not yet peaked, indicating that global temperatures will continue to rise for decades. In response to these challenges, there is a growing global focus on energy transition. India is at the forefront of this transition, with estimates from Bloomberg India suggesting that by 2030, the country will have more solar and wind projects than coal power plants,” added Shantanu Jaiswal.
The intermittency of renewable energy presents a significant challenge, making battery energy storage systems (BESS) essential for ensuring grid stability and enhancing renewable integration. Global energy demand is projected to triple, increasing from 1.8 terawatt-hours to over 5 terawatt-hours by 2050, primarily due to advancements in storage technology. Batteries play a crucial role not only in the power sector but also in transportation. India’s electric mobility sector is growing rapidly, with major automakers establishing battery assembly plants and leveraging the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to create 50 gigawatt-hours of battery manufacturing capacity. Demand for lithium-ion batteries is anticipated to rise from 10 gigawatt-hours today to 200 gigawatt-hours by 2035, fuelled by the electric vehicle market and grid-scale storage needs.
“With a goal to reduce carbon intensity by 45 per cent by 2030, the expo highlighted the critical role of renewables. Key advancements include the approval of 50 solar parks with a total capacity of 37.49 GW, alongside ambitious targets of producing 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen and achieving a 30 GW offshore wind energy capacity by 2030,” said Yogesh Mudras.
“The REI and Battery Show brought ideas, new technology, and new areas of alliances being built. Omega Seiki Mobility (OSM) is one of the largest EV players and our role is to make India green and clean. Alternative energy, renewable energy, whatever you call it, is the best option. I think if you look at global markets and what’s happening in India, it has given us a chance to actually shine,” said Uday Narang, Founder and Chairman, OSM.
Other key sessions included discussions on ‘India’s Ambitious Renewable Energy Targets’; ‘Developing India’s Clean Hydrogen Ecosystem: Challenges and Opportunities’; ‘Advancing Renewable Energy through Innovative Testing Solutions’, alongside notable panel discussions on topics such as ‘Quality of Manufacturing in India: Quality Assurance from the Start’ and ‘C&I Open Access Market Trends in India’; ‘India’s Strategic Contribution to the Global Clean Hydrogen Ecosystem’.
Captain Ishver Dholakiya, Managing Director and Founder of Goldi Solar, said: “We aim to increase our module manufacturing capacity from the current 3 GW to 14 GW by mid-FY26. Additionally, Goldi Solar plans to build its cell manufacturing capacity to 4 GW by FY27, a crucial move aimed at reducing reliance on imports and strengthening India’s solar infrastructure.” Dr Amit Paithankar, CEO of Waaree Energies, added: “Waaree Energies has been at the forefront of India’s renewable energy landscape, having transitioned from an instrumentation company into solar manufacturing over the past two decades. With the Prime Minister’s ambitious target of 500 GW of renewable energy, India’s renewable market is positioned for substantial growth. Solar energy, in particular, will account for 35 to 40 GW annually.” Muralee Krishnan, CEO of Adani Solar, said: “India has seen significant growth in the solar sector over the past several years. Our facilities in Mundra contribute to positioning India as a global manufacturing hub, and we aim to continue being a major player in the renewable energy transition.”
Future of biogas
“We foresee investment announcements totalling approximately Rs1,600 crore in the biogas sector, marking a major leap forward for renewable energy in India. Participation in the sector is growing, with a 20 per cent increase expected compared to last year, highlighting the untapped potential of biogas. Although the sector currently contributes less than one per cent to India’s energy mix, we are confident it will experience substantial growth and emerge as a key player in the nation’s energy future by 2030,” explained Gaurav Kumar, President, Indian Biogas Association.
The rapid development of renewable energy infrastructure and advancements in battery technology are reshaping India’s energy landscape. With the increasing reliance on renewable sources such as solar and wind, energy storage solutions like batteries are becoming crucial for ensuring uninterrupted power supply. The Battery Show India 2023 demonstrated cutting-edge innovations, from longer-lasting, faster-charging batteries to smart energy management systems, that promise to revolutionise the future of energy consumption and distribution.