The NetZero Energy Transition Association (NETRA) has urged the Indian government to adopt a technology-agnostic, multi-chemistry battery strategy to address the country’s energy storage requirements and strengthen energy security. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) projects that India will require around 411 GWh of energy storage by 2031–32. NETRA has recommended diversifying storage technologies to support the country’s energy transition and reduce dependence on a single battery chemistry.
NETRA has submitted recommendations calling for a defined share of grid-scale battery deployments and public procurement to be allocated to domestically manufactured cells and alternative chemistries. The association has highlighted the importance of sustained investment in research, development and manufacturing support for sodium-ion, flow, zinc-based and iron-based batteries alongside lithium-ion technology. It has also emphasised the need to strengthen domestic supply chains for key materials and components and encourage collaboration between industry and academic institutions to support indigenous intellectual property and skilled workforce development.
To advance these priorities, NETRA will organise the Beyond Lithium Summit 2026 on October 24, 2026, in New Delhi. The summit, themed ‘Building India’s Multi-Chemistry Storage Future’, aims to strengthen India’s ecosystem for energy storage technologies beyond lithium-ion batteries. More than 100 companies from across the energy storage value chain are expected to participate. The event will focus on commercially viable storage technologies, including sodium-ion batteries, vanadium redox flow batteries, iron- and zinc-based systems, aluminium-air technologies, pumped hydro and other mechanical storage solutions, alongside research, manufacturing, pilot projects, recycling and long-duration energy storage policy.
NETRA Executive Director Debi Prasad Dash has identified sodium-ion batteries as a promising near-term alternative for stationary energy storage, citing material availability, safety, temperature tolerance and potential cost competitiveness. India’s access to sodium, iron and manganese could support domestic supply chains and reduce dependence on imported critical minerals. Dash has also called for a dedicated Sodium Ion Mission to accelerate technology development and manufacturing scale-up. According to the source report, global sodium-ion cell manufacturing capacity has surpassed 10 GWh, with projections indicating potential growth to 400 GWh by 2030.
India is also advancing the development of indigenous sodium-ion battery technology. Dr R. Vijay, Director of the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials (ARCI), said the centre has developed and demonstrated cathode materials, including NVP, NFPP and layered oxides, alongside anode materials at smaller capacities. Work is progressing towards fabricating and validating 100 Ah and 314 Ah-class prismatic sodium-ion cells for battery energy storage system (BESS) applications. Separately, Jacob Seet, Chief Commercial Officer at VFT, highlighted the potential of vanadium redox flow batteries for long-duration energy storage, citing their safety, durability and long asset life. These systems can support renewable energy integration, peak-load management and grid flexibility.
NETRA has warned that excessive dependence on lithium-ion batteries exposes India to raw material price volatility, supply chain disruptions and import dependence. According to the source report, lithium battery prices in India fluctuated by more than 25% over the preceding year, driven by raw material constraints, exchange rate movements and the cost of imported battery cells. A diversified energy storage ecosystem could help address these vulnerabilities while supporting the different storage requirements of India’s electricity grid, industrial sector and mobility industry. NETRA’s recommendations aim to strengthen domestic manufacturing, encourage alternative battery technologies and build a more resilient and self-reliant energy storage sector.
