NEW DELHI – India's ambitious clean energy transition is moving into its next critical phase, demanding a strategic focus on energy storage, green fuels, and robust domestic manufacturing. This was the core message from Sumant Sinha, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of ReNew, speaking at the Business Today Infrastructure Summit on July 31, 2026.
Sinha highlighted that while India has made significant strides in rapidly expanding its renewable energy capacity, achieving over 300 gigawatts of installed capacity (primarily wind and solar) towards its 500 GW target by 2030, new challenges are emerging.
Tackling the Inflection Points
According to Sinha, the industry faces several “inflection points” that require an integrated, end-to-end approach to the green energy ecosystem. These include:
Grid Integration and Storage Solutions
As renewables now constitute approximately 20% of India's power supply, integrating this growing share into the national grid is paramount. Sinha emphasized the urgent need for more storage solutions, such as pumped hydro and battery-based systems, alongside every new renewable project to manage periods of surplus solar generation and meet evening peak demand.
Boosting Domestic Manufacturing
India's reliance on imported equipment for much of its renewable capacity poses an energy security challenge. Sinha urged a shift towards a more localized supply chain, moving further upstream to reduce dependence on foreign components and foster indigenous manufacturing capabilities.
Expanding Renewables Beyond Electricity
Electricity accounts for only 20% of total energy consumption. To decarbonize the remaining 80%, Sinha advocated for the development of green fuels like green hydrogen and green ammonia. These innovations are essential for extending renewable energy's reach into sectors currently reliant on fossil fuels.
Electrification and Economic Drivers
Beyond green fuels, Sinha stressed the importance of accelerating electrification across transportation and industry. He noted that the primary driver for this transition is economic: clean energy is increasingly becoming cheaper than traditional coal-based power, even when factoring in battery storage costs.
Sinha called for a comprehensive policy framework that moves beyond mere capacity targets to an integrated strategy across the entire value chain. He also underscored the necessity of policy certainty to support the long-term investments required for a sustainable energy future.
India's Global Ambition
Despite China's significant head start in clean energy, Sinha expressed confidence in India's potential to become a leading global player. He articulated an aspiration for India to firmly establish itself as the second-most advanced country in electrification and become a significant exporter of clean technology equipment, knowledge, and expertise worldwide.