From Assets to System Value: How Storage Will Reshape Utilities, Markets, and Investments

Location: Mogra Hall A and B, 4th floor, Convention Centre

India’s electricity sector is experiencing a decisive transformation as renewable energy becomes the backbone of future power generation. With the national target of 500 GW of non‑fossil capacity by 2030 and rapidly growing solar and wind installations, the system is encountering sharper variability and more complex operational conditions than ever before. Daily demand curves, shaped increasingly by urbanisation and climatic stress, are creating deeper evening ramps, steeper intraday fluctuations, and new reliability risks for utilities. These shifts require the power system to move from a traditional supply‑driven architecture to a flexibility‑driven model, where energy storage plays a central role.

At the same time, India is advancing comprehensive policy and regulatory frameworks to enable greater integration of storage. Initiatives such as storage‑linked renewable tenders, Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charge waivers for storage signal a strategic pivot toward flexibility-centric planning. These measures, coupled with ongoing resource adequacy assessments and state‑level procurement initiatives, demonstrate an evolving recognition that storage is not merely an add‑on technology but a system‑level enabler critical to achieving reliability, affordability, and decarbonisation goals.

Globally, countries such as the United Kingdom (UK) illustrate the transformative potential of storage when embedded within market and operational frameworks. The UK’s transition toward flexibility markets, revenue‑stacked business models, and system services that value speed, availability, and reliability offer valuable lessons for India. These experiences show that storage delivers maximum value when regulatory and commercial signals reward system‑level contributions rather than energy delivery alone. As India seeks to integrate larger quantities of renewable power while modernising grid operations, adapting such international best practices becomes increasingly relevant.

Within this broader landscape, India’s utilities and distribution companies (DISCOMs) are beginning to reassess their operational strategies, procurement models, and risk management approaches. Rising peak demand, congestion at both transmission and distribution levels, and the need for firming and ramp support are compelling DISCOMs and system planners to evaluate storage not just as a technical asset but as a strategic part of future power system design. This shift from “asset‑based” to “system‑value‑based” thinking lies at the heart of the ongoing transition.

This discussion is situated within this context. It offers a timely platform for decision‑makers, utilities, developers, financiers and international experts to collectively reflect on how storage will reshape India’s electricity landscape—technologically, operationally, and financially. The deliberations aim to distill insights that can guide the next phase of India’s storage strategy: one that prioritises system value, bankability, and long‑term sustainability.

The discussion is expected to deliver:

·    A shared understanding of the system value of storage across policymakers, utilities, and market participants

·       Perspectives on regulatory and market reforms required to scale storage deployment

·       Insights into evolving utility strategies and investment priorities

·       Recommendations for integrating storage into grid planning and procurement

·       Learnings from UK and global experiences that are relevant for India

·       Inputs to shape policy, technology, and financing solutions under ongoing national programmes

This discussion is being organised on 20^th March 2026 at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, New Delhi as part of Bharat Electricity Summit 2026, supported by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and in collaboration with Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India. Bharat Electricity Summit is a flagship national platform that brings together policymakers, utilities, technology providers, investors, and global experts to deliberate on the future of India’s electricity sector. The Summit focuses on accelerating innovations, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and enabling investments to build a reliable, sustainable, and modern power system for India.