The India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) has introduced its ‘BESS for C&I’ initiative in Mumbai to accelerate battery energy storage adoption among commercial and industrial (C&I) consumers. The initiative aims to empower 300 C&I consumers with storage solutions over the next three years.

India’s C&I battery storage capacity has increased from 40 MWh to 650 MWh and is projected to reach nearly 4 GWh by FY2027. However, high upfront costs, evolving regulations, limited financing options and gaps in user awareness continue to constrain wider adoption.

Starting October 2026, BESS for C&I will conduct monthly sessions bringing together industry representatives, developers and policymakers to discuss deployment, economics and best practices. The initiative will operate as a free workgroup for C&I consumers and provide policy updates, technology trends and pricing insights, along with access to B2B meetings, technology tours and masterclasses.

“The BESS for C&I platform is designed to address the unique challenges faced by commercial and industrial energy consumers as battery storage becomes essential for grid flexibility and business resilience. No single technology can meet all system needs; collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and innovation across the value chain are critical to accelerating adoption and shaping India’s battery storage future,” said Debmalya Sen, President, IESA.

Industry participants highlighted the need for domestic cell and component manufacturing, stronger supply chains and clearer regulations to support the sector. Bharat Chhittarka, Director, Trex Energy, called for states to establish clear policies covering time-of-day tariffs, energy arbitrage and peak shaving to encourage large-scale BESS deployment.

Bimal Jindal, CEO, Energy Business, JBM Renewables Private Limited, emphasised the need to build a domestic battery ecosystem covering component manufacturing, lithium carbonate, cell production and R&D. He also suggested increasing mandated BESS deployment and reducing GST on BESS from 18 per cent to 5 per cent.

Sushmita R. Ajwani, Head of Business Development (C&I), Aditya Birla Renewables, highlighted domestic cell manufacturing, regulatory clarity and targeted incentives as important factors for accelerating adoption. Meanwhile, Inder Bhambra, COO-BESS and Chief Business Officer, India region, Envision Energy India Limited, called for local development of cell technologies and DC container assembly, along with rationalisation of open-access and transmission-related charges.

IESA said utility-scale battery storage capex has risen 15 per cent in recent months, adding to project cost volatility. Through IESA Connect, the alliance plans to extend the initiative to cities and industrial clusters across India, involving C&I consumers in discussions around policy, standards and safety.