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India’s 4th battery summit to drive manufacturing, policy, and innovation

Supported by the Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) and the Government of Odisha, this International Summit is poised to create new partnership opportunities and devise a roadmap for the Battery Manufacturing and Supply Chain industry.

IESA is organising the two-day 4th India Battery Manufacturing & Supply Chain Summit from January 15 and 16, 2025, in New Delhi and a pre-conference to Bharat Mobility 2025. Over 500 Industry Leaders representing more than 300 organisations, alongside 30 government officials and more than 50 global speakers are expected to participate in the event. Supported by the Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) and the Government of Odisha, this International Summit aims to create new partnership opportunities and devise a roadmap for the Battery Manufacturing and Supply Chain industry.

While addressing the event, Vijay Mittal Joint Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries said,  “The Ministry of Heavy Industries has been actively seeking input from industry experts to develop policies that can catalyse our collective mission. These policies aim to provide the necessary support through incentives, technical aid, and research and development, enabling the Indian industry to achieve its ambitious goals. It is crucial that we do not miss the bus this time, as has happened in previous instances. Perhaps the journey for Advanced Chemistry Cells (ACC) began ahead of schedule this time. While we faced some challenges due to this early start, the significant advantage is the heightened awareness of battery cells, their raw materials, and related technologies in our country.”

The ministry is currently developing a concept note aimed at bringing policymakers together to agree on specific schemes that will support the manufacturing of components. This support will involve financial systems, policy regulations, and ease of doing business. As highlighted by many, if we do not achieve a domestic value addition (DVA) of over 50%, it does not genuinely align with the essence of “Make in India. Any manufacturer producing goods in this country—be it ACC batteries or any other product—that possesses over 50% DVA is recognised as a Class 1 supplier and a genuine contributor to our requirements. Furthermore,  I believe it’s important to mention the role of recycling in completing the cycle we’ve been discussing. Since we may not have sufficient lithium resources, ensuring that lithium remains in the country through recycling and is reused in batteries could be a significant breakthrough for our self-reliance in cell manufacturing, Mittal added. 

Debi Prasad Dash, President, IESA mentioned that IESA is currently working with 60+ battery and component manufacturers and submitted industry requirements to the Ministry on creating a social incentive program for Battery component manufacturing. Hope the upcoming budget will bring a new support scheme for the battery manufacturing ecosystem.

In a significant move to bolster the country’s battery industry, the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) has launched the India Battery Manufacturing and Supply Chain Council (IBMSCC) in 2020.  This council facilitates a platform for manufacturers of batteries, cells, and intermediate components (Cathode, anode, electrolyte, Separator, Adhesive and other non-active parts, etc.) to discuss the critical challenges such as resource availability, the raw materials supply chain, existing policies, and regulations, while also working to provide viable solutions. 

Sriram Ramakrishnan, President-Battery and Energy Systems, Reliance New Energy emphasised, “I feel we are on the cusp of an energy revolution with the increasing electrification of the global economy. India is poised to become one of the top three global economies, and our per capita electricity consumption will continue to rise. With our Prime Minister’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047—we should also strive for energy independence. It is expected that electricity will account for over 35% of our energy mix by 2047, with renewables playing a significantly larger role in that mix. Currently, about 15-20% of our electricity generation comes from renewable sources, and projections suggest that this could reach 75-85% by 2047.

To meet these ambitious goals, India needs to add 3,000-4,000 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2047, a significant leap from our current 500-gigawatt target for 2030. Batteries are crucial for this transition, presenting an immense opportunity for India to excel in battery technology. I propose establishing a target of 100 gigawatt-hours of integrated battery capacity by 2030, with a vision for 1 terawatt-hour by 2040. Achieving this could create 500,000 quality jobs and position India as a global battery leader. I urge all stakeholders—government, industry, and academia—to collaborate and make the Bharat Battery Mission a reality, transforming India into a global battery powerhouse, Mr. Ramakrishnan added. 

Highlighting the industry’s growth trajectory, three companies have signed production-linked incentive (PLI) agreements to establish a combined capacity of 40 GWh for cell manufacturing. Additionally, plans for a bidding process for the remaining 10 GWh, focused on stationary storage technologies, are underway. 

Vikram Handa, MD, EAM & Chair, India Battery Manufacturing & Supply Chain says, “It’s great to witness the level of participation at the 4th India Battery Manufacturing & Supply Chain Summit. Over these two days, this platform will showcase discussions on clean energy transition, upstream processing of critical minerals, and aligning industry efforts with government agencies. We also look forward to the industry coming forward to explore strategic partnerships and investments in the EV Battery Supply Chain. Epsilon Advanced Materials is contributing to this vision with plans for 200,000 tons of anode manufacturing capacity across India, the US, and Europe, and a 100,000 ton Cathode plant in India by 2030.” 

India’s entry into the US-led Minerals Security Partnership further opens up significant opportunities within the global market. The Ministry of Mines has initiated multiple tranches of e-auctions for critical and strategic minerals. The IBMSCC works with over 60 global industry players involved in the advanced chemistry cell (ACC) manufacturing ecosystem. Fostering market analysis, business strategy development, expanding market opportunities, technology evaluations, policy advocacy, and skill development. The council is also engaged with the Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Heavy Industries, Ministry of Commerce, and NITI Aayog to foster a sustainable ACC manufacturing ecosystem in India. 

The last edition of the IBMSCS witnessed a remarkable participation of over 600 delegates, more than 20 distinguished government officials and over 30 global speakers. This event served as a dynamic platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and collaboration across various sectors.