Gautam Reddy Kumbam, AM Green Group: Energy storage is crucial to enabling the production and use of green molecules like hydrogen. India is witnessing strong momentum in pumped storage, BESS, and grid stabilization projects-driving encouraging progress across the clean energy value chain.

India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2025 | Organized by India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA)

This high-impact session brought together government leaders, industry executives, and innovators to explore the accelerating role of energy storage and green hydrogen in powering India’s clean energy future.

Gautam Reddy Kumbam, AM Green Group: Energy storage is crucial to enabling the production and use of green molecules like hydrogen. India is witnessing strong momentum in pumped storage, BESS, and grid stabilization projects-driving encouraging progress across the clean energy value chain.

Rajat Seksaria, Adani Group: Stated that storage is now a core market, not just a support function. Emphasized that BESS is becoming the generator, with solar as the fuel. Shared that the 3.5 GWh BESS capacity is under construction. Storage may be needed to meet rising daytime demand. Advocated that electrons can replace molecules in some sectors, driving the energy transition. Emphasized transition, security, and Make in India as the three key pillars.

Manu Srivastava, Government of Madhya Pradesh: Energy transition is being driven by strong regulatory direction, underscoring the crucial role of policy frameworks and government mandates in enabling clean energy deployment. MP is commissioning multiple projects using batteries twice a day — storing daytime solar and supplying power in the evening.

Sivaprasad Manikkapurath, ReNew: Highlighted the rapid evolution of hybrid and battery energy storage systems (BESS), emphasizing their growing role in grid stability, voltage support, and ancillary services. He noted significant innovation from cell to container, with the energy management system (EMS) at the core.

Akash Kaushik, GoodEnough Energy: Announced the setup of a 7 GW annual battery manufacturing facility, positioning India as a key player in the global battery supply chain. He highlighted the company’s commitment to Make in India and scaling domestic capabilities to support the growing demand for energy storage.

𝐇𝐞 𝐌𝐫 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐩 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐎𝐀𝐌: the strengthening India–Australia energy partners, recognizing India as a fast-growing economy and a key player in the global renewable transition. The renewable energy partnership between India and Australia is called a mutually beneficial and strategic collaboration for the clean energy future. With Australia’s mineral resources, including lithium and rare earths, the two countries are poised for a long-term strategic partnership in green hydrogen, solar, and energy storage.

𝐒𝐡𝐫𝐢.𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐡𝐚𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐥, 𝐇𝐨𝐧'𝐛𝐥𝐞 Minister of Power Delhi and 𝐌𝐨𝐇𝐔𝐀 at India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2025 noted that India is now competing with Japan in terms of economic size, signaling the country’s growing influence on the global stage. He stressed that to sustain and accelerate this momentum, clean energy implementation must move from discussion to action.

Noted that energy demand will rise significantly in the near future, and to meet that, India must double its current pace of progress. Promote collaboration between the government, industry, and manufacturing sectors. Drive large-scale adoption of clean energy, including storage and hydrogen technologies. Support the growth of data centers and innovation-driven industries, powered by green energy.

He concluded by underscoring that India must lead by example, integrating sustainability into economic expansion, and ensuring energy security, affordability, and self-reliance.

At India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2025, a high-impact panel featuring Utkarsh Singh (BatX Energies), @Prasanna Daphal (@EvergreenRecycle Karo), Yashwanth (Yash) Mahadevan (Bridge Green Upcycle), and Bartosz Przywara (EU Delegation to India) discussed “Urban Mining as a Business: Unlocking Profitability, Finance & Global Trade in battery circularity”. The session was expertly moderated by Pratyush Sinha, VP – Special Projects, LOHUM .

Utkarsh Singh shared India’s advances in hydrometallurgical recycling across chemistries like LFP, NMC, and LCO, while underscoring the need for formalized collection and pricing frameworks. Prasanna reflected on the sector’s evolution—from 22 to 1200+ players—and the persistent dominance of the informal sector. Yashwant brought a global perspective from US–India markets, emphasizing the importance of capital efficiency in a volatile, commodity-led space. Bartosz provided key insights into the EU’s regulatory leadership, from the 2006 Battery Directive to the 2023 update and black mass export restrictions under the Basel Convention.

Key takeaway: India’s battery recycling sector is poised for growth but requires policy stability, infrastructure support, and long-term capital to scale sustainably.

The session also marked the launch of the EU-India CECP Battery Circularity Study by PwC and the EU Delegation, which covers critical issues such as battery passports, traceability, and how India's ecosystem can align with global best practices.

Enabling Circularity in Batteries: The Role of Solvents in Critical Metal Recovery

India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2025 | India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) Alliance

As India advances its ambitions for a circular battery economy, chemistry is emerging as a key enabler. In a technical session at IESW 2025, Rajesh Goyal, Founding Member of PolyProtic, shared how domestic innovation in solvent extraction can reduce reliance on imports and unlock high-purity metal recovery.

Most recyclers today stop at producing black mass, which is then exported due to limited hydrometallurgical capacity and dependence on imported chemicals. Polyprotic is addressing this challenge head-on by developing indigenous alternatives to widely used extractants like Cyanex 272, Ionquest 290, D2EHPA, and tributyl phosphate—crucial for refining metals such as cobalt, manganese, zinc, uranium, and rare earths like scandium. Lithium solutions are also in the pipeline, expected to be market-ready in six months.

At India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2025, an insightful panel-moderated by Mandira Majumder—explored the evolving landscape of battery material manufacturing, critical minerals, and the technologies powering India's energy future.

PCBL Chemicals is pioneering India’s journey with acetylene black technology—a conductive additive with 1/10th the carbon footprint of conventional methods. They are also bringing nano-silicon innovations to market using silica-based precursors, achieving 80% lower emissions and offering customizable, high-performance anodes.

The session highlighted the need for domestic resilience in battery manufacturing, as India still imports nearly all its battery-grade cobalt, graphite, and other key minerals. From materials to automation, speakers emphasized that technology localization, partnerships, and supportive policies are crucial. Collaboration across sectors and geographies will be key to building a secure, scalable battery ecosystem.

John Wood (Gelion ) highlighted this as a pivotal moment for India’s battery sector. While China leads globally, India’s expanding ecosystem and growing lithium-ion capabilities position it to lead in next-gen chemistries.

Abhishek Mohla (Hindalco Industries Limited) outlined India’s capacity to build from e-mobility to solar, noting Hindalco’s integration from mine to foil, and the company’s pioneering recycling efforts—recovering metals from over 3 million electronics materials.

Kiriti Varma (Altmin) spoke on the upcoming Sodium-Ion Battery (SIB) revolution and stressed the need to build refining and downstream capabilities in India, starting with LIBs as the blueprint.