Industry leaders and officials from Australia, Germany and Scotland discussed cooperation with India on battery manufacturing, critical minerals and technology at the Renewable Energy India (REI) Expo & The Battery Show India (TBSI) on October 23, as India works to strengthen domestic battery manufacturing and the supply chain that could support its electric vehicle (EV) industry.
Australia identified battery manufacturing and EVs as key areas for cooperation with India. Australia has significant lithium, cobalt and rare earth resources.
Philip Green, Australia’s High Commissioner to India, said “The two countries could combine Australia’s engineering expertise and mineral resources with India’s manufacturing strength and integration into global supply chains.”
“Australia produces more than 50 percent of the world’s lithium, according to Green, and holds the world’s second-largest cobalt reserves. It also ranks second or third globally in rare earth resources.” he said.
Australia has 20 companies and 32 exhibitors at the expo, showing technologies in energy storage, grid infrastructure, green hydrogen and renewable energy integration.
Anandi Iyer, Director of Fraunhofer Office in India, said “India and Germany had opportunities to collaborate in battery research, power electronics, advanced engineering and industrial automation.”
Iyer stated, “Approximately 800 GW of renewable energy capacity additions globally in 2025, while global battery storage deployment reached 108 GW, an increase of 40 per cent from the previous year.”
She said, “Technological self-reliance did not mean working in isolation, highlighting the importance of trusted partnerships and supply chains that can translate research into commercially viable solutions.”
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney also spoke of combining Scottish technological expertise with India’s manufacturing scale, talent and market potential.
Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director of Informa Markets in India, said “Renewable energy generation and grid storage needed to expand together as the country advanced its energy transition.”
According to Mudras, “India’s renewable energy market is projected to reach 486 GW by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15 percent. The country’s battery storage sector is projected to exceed USD 8.5 billion by 2031, with a CAGR of 33 percent.”
These projections relate to the broader renewable energy and storage markets. The release said battery-related manufacturing and technology capabilities are also relevant to the wider EV ecosystem.
Manu Srivastav, Additional Chief Secretary in Madhya Pradesh’s Power & Renewable Energy Department, said “Renewable energy was becoming increasingly competitive with conventional power as costs declined. He pointed to opportunities for wider adoption over the next two to five years.”
Jai Asundi, Executive Director of the Centre for Study of Science, Technology & Policy (CSTEP), said “India would need continued investment in manufacturing, energy storage, grid infrastructure, research and skilled talent to build a resilient clean energy ecosystem.”
The three-day event, organised by Informa Markets in India, has more than 1,080 exhibitors, 1,400 brands and over 54,000 professionals. The co-located expos bring together renewable energy developers, battery manufacturers, investors and policymakers.
The cooperation in battery research and manufacturing technologies could contribute to domestic capabilities in India’s automotive sector. The discussions did not specify new investments or agreements involving individual EV manufacturers.
The expo is run by Informa Markets in India. This year's three-day edition runs October 22-24 at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida. It is the 19th edition of Renewable Energy India (REI) Expo, held with The Battery Show India and Energy Storage Summit India. Australia sent a 32-member delegation representing 21 clean energy companies.
The 18th REI Expo theme was achieving net zero, and it covered the clean energy chain from generation to storage and mobility. The opening focused on solar and national targets.
TERI's Director General said India had reached 127 GW of installed solar capacity and was moving towards its 500 GW non-fossil target for 2030. The battery side was smaller, with over 350 exhibitors and 400 brands expected.
The discussion at this year's expo has moved to what supports it: grid storage, domestic battery manufacturing, critical mineral access and international technology partnerships.
Last year's stated focus was net zero targets. The 2026 speakers, including Australia's High Commissioner, talked about securing lithium, cobalt and rare earths and building domestic manufacturing. The addition of a separate Energy Storage Summit also points to storage getting more weight.