Battery Summit 2025 Brings Together Over 500 Participants to Discuss Energy Storage Innovation and Collaboration

The Battery Summit 2025 convened over 500 participants from across government bodies, research institutions, startups, and the private sector to deliberate on India’s progress and future roadmap in battery technology and energy storage solutions. The summit, held in New Delhi, focused on strengthening domestic capabilities, promoting innovation, and enhancing collaboration to support the country’s energy and mobility goals.

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, addressed the gathering, highlighting India’s current position as sixth globally in patent filings. He stressed the importance of moving toward greater self-reliance in technology development and manufacturing, pointing to a significant increase in the Department of Science and Technology’s (DST) budget—from ₹2,777 crore in 2014 to ₹28,509 crore in 2025—and in overall research expenditure.

The summit featured panel discussions on lithium-ion supply chains, industry-academia partnerships, battery circularity, and the scaling of manufacturing. Organized in collaboration with DST, NITI Aayog, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Battery360 Alliance, the event served as a platform for stakeholders to exchange insights and develop strategies for a sustainable battery ecosystem.

B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog, noted that India’s next 25 years will be shaped by advancements in electric mobility and energy storage. He emphasized the need for a forward-looking approach led by science, innovation, and private sector participation.

One of the summit’s key highlights was the Battery Technologies Showcase, where more than 28 solutions were displayed, covering alternate battery chemistries, recycling innovations, and data applications. A pilot project named Battery Aadhaar was introduced, offering a digital ID system to improve the traceability of batteries throughout their lifecycle. A live demonstration using an electric four-wheeler battery pack illustrated its potential role in enhancing resource efficiency and compliance.

Dr. Anita Gupta from DST’s Climate Energy and Sustainable Technology division underlined the urgency of scaling battery storage and building research-driven infrastructure to support clean transport and a sustainable energy future. She also mentioned ongoing initiatives to establish Centers of Excellence and scale innovation-led partnerships.

Sudeep Jain, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, emphasized the role of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in integrating renewable energy and addressing energy demand in transmission-limited areas. He highlighted BESS as a critical component for India to achieve its 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity target.

WRI India launched a new report titled Development of Data Frameworks for Battery Circularity in India, which calls for a unified system to improve transparency and information sharing in the battery value chain.

Asher Lessels of UNEP emphasized that while batteries support decarbonization, their lifecycle must be managed responsibly to mitigate environmental and social impacts. He shared that UNEP, with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is working with over 40 countries on circular battery economy initiatives.

Madhav Pai, CEO of WRI India, projected that India’s battery demand could increase from 160 GWh in 2030 to over 600 GWh by 2050 in a net-zero scenario. He described the summit as a key step toward fostering a transparent and scalable battery sector, pointing to initiatives like Battery Aadhaar as indicators of progress.

The event was part of the UNEP-led initiative Electrifying Mobility in Cities, supported by GEF and guided by NITI Aayog, aimed at accelerating the shift to electric mobility and strengthening India’s battery infrastructure.