Energy experts are advocating for a unified energy interface and significant grid-level reforms in India’s power sector. A recent roundtable discussion held on June 18 underscored essential priorities for transforming this sector. Key proposals included establishing a National Energy Efficiency Mission aimed at meeting India’s 2030 goal of doubling energy efficiency, as well as the implementation of a Unified Energy Interface (UEI) to facilitate grid-level improvements. This event, titled ‘Energy Security Goals for a Viksit Bharat,’ took place at the International Centre in New Delhi and was organized by Climate Trends.
The discussions revealed a concerning disparity in energy efficiency, with India’s 5-star air conditioner rating equivalent to China’s 1-star rating. The experts emphasized that domestic manufacturing is crucial for scaling up battery storage solutions. They also highlighted the urgent need for developing standardization and testing protocols for battery storage technologies, which are currently lacking. Moreover, participants noted that without financially strengthening distribution companies (DISCOMs), modernizing the power system would be exceedingly challenging.
Nikit Abhyankar from UC Berkeley’s India Energy and Climate Centre pointed out that energy demand in India is doubling every decade. As the nation works toward its 2047 vision, renewable energy and storage solutions are viewed as the most cost-effective pathways forward, rendering new thermal investments less favorable. The urgency of this situation is compounded by an impending power crisis in India. Amol Phadke, Faculty Director at the India Energy and Climate Centre, warned that conventional coal plants, which take 5-10 years to construct, are at risk of leaving the country vulnerable to power shortages by 2027-28. His analysis indicates that India will need approximately 250 gigawatt-hours of storage annually until 2030, which breaks down to 50 gigawatt-hours each year to address key energy security challenges—representing merely 0.01 percent of global supply chain capacity.
Saurabh Kumar from GEAPP discussed the cooling sector, identifying both challenges and opportunities. With an estimated 30 percent of Indians projected to own air conditioners by 2030, an incremental capacity of 150 GW will be required. However, the deployment of super-efficient units could potentially decrease this demand by 60 GW. Currently, 3-star air conditioners dominate sales, accounting for 80 percent, as opposed to more efficient 5-star models. A national energy efficiency mission could unlock this significant potential.
Former NTPC Green Energy CEO Mohit Bhargava emphasized the necessity for aggressive and comprehensive storage deployment, advocating for exploration beyond just lithium-based solutions to guarantee 24/7 power availability. All experts agreed on the pressing need for grid digitization. They also concurred that without a financial turnaround of DISCOMs, the energy transition in India cannot progress as needed.
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