Renewables
India sees rising demand for battery storage and string inverters
GoodWe India highlights a growing industry shift towards modular string inverters and integrated battery energy storage systems.
Key points
- Utility-scale solar projects in India are shifting from central to string inverters due to modularity and lower maintenance needs.
- Battery energy storage demand is increasing as the market transitions from immediate consumption to stored energy solutions.
- Component availability, particularly semiconductors and IGBTs, remains a key consideration for inverter manufacturers.
What happened
According to Mercom India reporting from the Renewable Energy India Expo 2026, the Indian solar market is experiencing a notable technical evolution. GoodWe India Country Head Aniket Sawant noted that utility-scale solar developers are increasingly adopting string inverters over traditional central inverters. While central inverters dominated around 90 percent of the utility-scale market three to four years ago, string inverters are gaining ground due to their installation flexibility and modular design.
This modularity helps limit generation losses during equipment faults. If a central inverter fails, an entire generation block can go offline, whereas a string inverter failure affects only the connected capacity. Furthermore, rising module power ratings—moving from 400 W to 450 W units to modules reaching approximately 700 W—require manufacturers to continuously upgrade maximum power point tracking current capabilities.
Battery storage and grid integration
Another significant development is the accelerated integration of battery energy storage systems (BESS). The market is moving away from immediate consumption or direct grid injection towards storing daytime solar generation for nighttime use. Companies are rolling out solutions such as utility-scale battery systems and navigating emerging requirements for rooftop and ground-mounted projects, including those under the PM-KUSUM scheme.
Meanwhile, the broader adoption of grid-forming inverters, which aid in active and reactive power management and grid stability, will rely on coordinated policy direction. Industry participants note that clear implementation frameworks from grid operators and policymakers are necessary before grid-forming technology sees widespread deployment.
Why it matters
As emerging economies expand their clean energy portfolios, balancing generation with storage becomes critical for grid reliability. India achieved an electricity access rate of 99.9 percent by 2024, according to World Bank figures, with a per capita electricity use of 1222.8 kWh. For energy investors and policymakers across other developing regions, including sub-Saharan Africa, the transition toward modular string architectures and integrated storage offers a scalable template for managing rapid renewable energy deployment and mitigating generation intermittency.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Renewables are the fastest-growing part of the world’s energy system. The COP28 goal is to triple capacity by 2030, and solar mini-grids are the fastest route to power for millions of people without electricity.
19.1% of electricity in India was renewable in 2021Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
