Scotland is ready to be a partner in India’s energy transition & together they can combine Scottish expertise & innovation with India’s scale, talent & capability.
New Delhi, October 23, 2026 – Clean energy leaders and international dignitaries highlighted the need to scale renewable power generation and battery energy storage in tandem as India advances its energy transition. With India crossing 300 GW in installed non-fossil capacity toward its 500 GW target by 2030, speakers emphasized that sustained progress depends on bilateral technology transfer, critical minerals integration, robust domestic manufacturing, and technology sovereignty to ensure reliable and affordable power delivery.
The discussions took place at the opening of the 19th edition of the Renewable Energy India (REI) Expo, co-located with the 4th edition of The Battery Show India (TBSI) and the 2nd edition of the Energy Storage Summit India. Organized by Informa Markets in India, the three-day flagship industry gathering brings together over 1,080 exhibitors, 1,400 brands, and more than 54,000 professionals at the India Expo Mart. Serving as a central marketplace for utility solar, bioenergy, green hydrogen, and battery manufacturing, the platform spotlights international delegations and country pavilions from key trading partners including Australia, Germany, Scotland, the European Union, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and China.
Speaking at the event Mr. John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland said, “Scotland and India share a common ambition to build prosperous, modern economies powered by clean energy, innovation and international partnerships. If we work together, we can help ensure that more of the economic benefits of the energy transition are felt in our communities, support our businesses and create lasting opportunities for people in both of our countries. It was a privilege to address the Renewable Energy India Expo today, one of the largest clean energy events in Asia. Scotland is ready to be a partner in India’s energy transition and together we can realize our ambitions by combining Scottish expertise and innovation with India’s scale, talent and capability.”
Dr. Jai Asundi, Executive Director, CSTEP (Centre for Study of Science, Technology & Policy) India, said, “India has made remarkable progress in its renewable energy journey, crossing 300 GW of installed renewable energy capacity and establishing itself as a major global player in clean energy. As we work towards the target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based electricity capacity by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2070, the focus must now shift towards building a resilient, reliable and globally competitive clean energy ecosystem. This will require continued investment in domestic manufacturing, energy storage, grid infrastructure, research and innovation, alongside a skilled workforce and stronger industry-academia partnerships. Equally important is ensuring that the benefits of the energy transition reach households, farmers and businesses across all regions.”
HE Mr. Philip Green OAM, Australia’s High Commissioner to India said, “India and Australia have a tremendous opportunity to accelerate the global energy transition by combining Australia’s engineering innovation and critical mineral resources with India’s manufacturing strength and integration into global supply chains. Australia is firmly committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, with a target of 82% renewable energy in its electricity grid by 2030. More than 30% of Australian rooftops already have solar installations, and the country’s growing reliance on renewable energy has helped reduce electricity prices over the past year, strengthening the case for energy security through clean power. Australia also brings significant capabilities in critical minerals, producing more than 50% of the world’s lithium, holding the second-largest cobalt reserves globally and ranking second or third in rare earths. These resources, combined with India’s ambitions in EV and battery manufacturing, present significant opportunities for bilateral collaboration. At the Renewable Energy India Expo, Australia is represented by 20 companies and 32 exhibitors, showcasing expertise in energy storage, grid technologies, green hydrogen, digital solutions and renewable energy integration. With Australian engineering innovation, including PERC solar cell technology developed at the University of New South Wales, and India’s manufacturing capabilities, both countries can strengthen supply chains, expand clean energy deployment and support a more secure and sustainable energy future.”
Ms. Anandi Iyer, Director, Fraunhofer Office, India said, “Renewable energy is no longer just a climate imperative; it is a business priority and a matter of technological sovereignty and national security. The world added approximately 800 GW of renewable energy capacity in 2025, while global battery storage deployment reached 108 GW, a 40% increase over the previous year. With India having crossed 300 GW of non-fossil fuel-based installed capacity and targeting 500 GW, energy storage, grid integration and reliable power delivery are becoming increasingly critical. The Renewable Energy India Expo and The Battery Show India provide an important platform to strengthen international collaboration, exchange technological expertise and accelerate innovation across the clean energy value chain. India and Germany have a strong opportunity to combine India’s manufacturing scale and growing energy market with Germany’s expertise in advanced engineering, battery research, power electronics and industrial automation. Fraunhofer, with 73 institutes in Germany, a presence in 80 countries, approximately 32,000 researchers and engineers, and an annual R&D outlay of €3.6 billion, has been part of India’s growth story for 18 years. Technology sovereignty does not mean isolation; it requires trusted partnerships and resilient supply chains that translate research into commercially viable solutions.”
Shri. Manu Srivastav, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Power & Renewable Energy Department, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh said, “The Renewable Energy India Expo continues to witness growing participation and enthusiasm, reflecting the increasing potential and economic viability of the clean energy sector. Renewable energy is becoming more affordable by the day, with declining costs and economies of scale making it increasingly competitive with conventional power. These trends create significant opportunities to scale up adoption over the next two to five years. India also has a strong clean energy story to share with other countries as the sector continues to evolve. With the economic case for renewable energy strengthening, the outlook remains encouraging for the industry’s growth and expansion.”
Mr. Wouter Molman, Chief Commercial Officer, inD (Informa & Dubai World Trade Centre partnership) said, “India has a significant role to play in shaping the global energy transition, driven by its ambitious renewable energy goals, growing manufacturing capabilities and rising energy demand. At INDI, our partnership brings together complementary strengths, with Informa contributing global scale as the world’s largest event organiser, while Dubai World Trade Centre brings deep reach and market knowledge across the Middle East region and beyond. Our ambition is to connect more markets, industries and businesses, bringing the global energy community closer to the opportunities emerging in India. As renewable energy capacity expands, energy storage is becoming increasingly critical to building flexible, resilient and reliable power systems.”
Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India said, “The sheer international scale of this edition, hosting over 1,080 exhibitors, 1,400 global brands, and delegations from more than 10 countries reflects the incredible global interest in India’s clean energy expansion. With India’s renewable energy market compounding at a 15% CAGR toward 486 GW by 2030, and our battery storage sector expanding at an extraordinary 33% CAGR to cross $8.5 billion by 2031, we have reached an execution phase where generation and grid storage must scale in tandem. By co-locating REI Expo and The Battery Show India, we create a powerful confluence where solar developers, cell manufacturers, international investors, and policymakers directly align. This integration is vital for building domestic manufacturing resilience, unlocking critical capital, and securing India’s net-zero transition.”
REI & The Battery Show supported by key industry associations including the Indian Bioenergy Association, the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), CSTEP and TERI. The event establishes a unified ecosystem connecting renewable power generation directly with cell manufacturing and energy storage.
