Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi inaugurated one of India’s largest Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) manufacturing facilities in Bengaluru’s Bidadi Industrial Area on Friday. Developed by PACE Digitek, the facility represents a significant leap in India’s clean energy ambitions and advanced manufacturing capabilities. With an annual production capacity of 5 GWh, the plant is equipped with a fully automated cell-to-pack assembly line, ensuring high precision and efficiency.

Joshi emphasized the facility’s role in bolstering India’s renewable energy goals, particularly its target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based power generation by 2030. "This plant is not just about building batteries; it is about building India's energy future," he said. The facility is expected to enhance grid stability, facilitate renewable energy integration, and manage peak demand effectively.

The minister also unveiled plans for a Rs 5,400 crore viability gap funding (VGF) scheme to support the development of 30 GWh of battery storage systems. This initiative supplements the existing Rs 3,700 crore VGF scheme, which is already backing 13.2 GWh of BESS projects. Joshi highlighted the urgency of scaling up energy storage to avoid reliance on coal and ensure grid resilience amid rapid renewable capacity additions of 25–30 GW annually.

According to the India Energy Storage Alliance, the sector is poised to attract Rs 4.79 lakh crore in investments by 2032. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) estimates that India will require 411.4 GWh of energy storage capacity by then, including 236.22 GWh from BESS and 175.18 GWh from pumped storage projects (PSPs). Joshi expressed confidence in India’s potential to become a global hub for energy storage solutions, with plans to add over 47 GW of battery storage capacity by 2032, backed by Rs 3.5 lakh crore in investments.