With a rapid increase in energy storage systems (ESS) deployments in India, Maharashtra-based energy storage systems (ESS) provider AmpereHour Energy is taking it one step further by deploying intelligent ESS. This technology enables the systems to respond dynamically to grid conditions, predict demand patterns, and deliver multiple services, including frequency regulation.

Speaking with Mercom India, Ayush Misra, CEO at AmpereHour Energy, highlights the emergence of intelligent ESS, its growing adoption trend in the country, and the obstacles to its large-scale deployment.

Could you provide a brief overview of AmpereHour Energy and its core operations in the energy storage sector?

We are a full-stack provider of hardware and software energy storage technology for mid-to-large-scale energy storage projects. Our systems are being deployed for applications along the value chain, which includes utility-scale systems connected to power-generating stations or transmission and distribution substations. We also provide mid-scale, behind-the-meter projects at commercial and industrial (C&I) facilities. Additionally, we have enabled off-grid microgrids in rural India, Africa, and the Middle East to power small towns and cities, as well as special economic zone facilities.

We are working with multiple large companies, utilities, and global businesses, including Indigrid, Siemens, Cummins, Tata, and Coca-Cola, among others, as their technology partner and energy storage project integrator.

What defines an intelligent ESS, and how do these systems differ from conventional storage technologies in performance and functionality?

An intelligent ESS is much more than just batteries. It integrates advanced software, controls, and data analytics to monitor, manage, and optimize energy flows in real-time.

This technology enables the system to respond dynamically to grid conditions, predict demand patterns, and deliver multiple services, including frequency regulation, peak load management, and energy arbitrage.

Compared to conventional storage technologies such as lead-acid for power backup, new-age lithium-ion-based intelligent ESS offer significantly higher performance, flexibility, and value. These systems achieve these advantages by doing more than just storing energy and enabling the smarter utilization of the asset.

They are essential for a future where energy systems must be adaptive, resilient, and efficient. All our ESS come with in-built energy management software, ELINA, which has been fully developed in-house.

How do your energy storage solutions help manage the intermittency challenges associated with renewable energy sources like solar and wind?

Intermittency is one of the most significant challenges in scaling up renewable energy. Our ESS acts as a buffer, absorbing excess energy when generation exceeds demand and releasing it when demand exceeds generation.

ESS helps systems smooth out fluctuations, ensure grid stability, and maximize the utilization of renewable energy assets.

This would enable higher penetration of renewables into the grid without compromising reliability. Additionally, our intelligent control software, ELINA Edge, predicts generation and load patterns, enabling proactive energy management rather than just reactive balancing. This technology provides an end-to-end solution for new-age renewable energy project formats like fixed dispatch renewable energy, peak power, and round-the-clock.

Are you seeing an increase in ESS adoption in India? What segments are leading this growth?

We are witnessing a significant increase in the adoption of ESS in India, driven by factors such as rising renewable energy penetration, grid modernization, and an increasing demand for energy reliability.

There is growing momentum in utility-scale projects, especially with the government’s push for hybrid renewable-plus-storage and standalone energy storage tenders.

Multiple sectors are proactively incorporating power from ESS as part of their power procurement mix. These sectors are helping to decarbonize beyond open access or on-site solar capacity.

Which industry segments are currently the biggest adopters of energy storage solutions, and where do you see the next wave of demand coming from?

Currently, most storage is mandate-driven and will be deployed in large utility-scale farms. The value proposition with newer tariff policies in various states is also beginning to make the commercial value proposition for storage in the C&I space viable.

Increasingly, manufacturing hubs, IT parks, and large facilities with high energy demands are adopting ESS to meet their growing energy needs. Data centers are also emerging as a key sector, given their demand for uninterrupted power and their commitment to sustainability goals.

What are the key challenges—technical, financial, or regulatory—that are slowing the adoption of ESS in the country?

New technologies face challenges in scaling up rapidly.

On the technical front, challenges include the need for greater standardization, skilled manpower, and robust testing infrastructure. Battery cell supply chains are largely concentrated in China; therefore, creating a strong supply chain in India would be necessary from a diversification and energy security perspective.

Building a local manufacturing ecosystem would require an intelligently planned approach with a long-term policy vision, beginning with a focus on pack-to-container and a step-by-step backward integration.

On the market front, regulatory challenges include the lack of clear frameworks for monetizing the multiple value streams that storage can provide, such as frequency regulation, ancillary services, or capacity payments. Creating a transparent market for such services and recognizing the full value of storage in policy will be critical to unlocking its potential.

Looking ahead, how do you expect India’s energy storage landscape to evolve over the next few years, particularly in scale, technology, and policy support?

India’s energy storage landscape is on the cusp of rapid growth, with the Central Electricity Authority projecting a battery energy storage capacity of approximately 250 GWh to be installed by 2032. Over the next few years, we expect a significant scale-up in utility-scale and behind-the-meter deployments. Technologically, we can expect advances in battery chemistry, enhanced safety standards, and increased integration of AI-driven energy management systems.

On the policy front, the recently released National Framework for Energy Storage is a step in the right direction. We need more robust mechanisms to create viable market opportunities for ESS, such as capacity markets, ancillary service procurement, and clear long-term roadmaps.

We believe the sector is poised for a transformation that will mirror the growth trajectory of renewables in the last decade.

There is a growing trend of renewable energy tenders being issued with energy storage requirements. Do you expect this to continue, and what impact will it have on the storage market?

The inclusion of storage in renewable energy tenders is a strong signal of the market’s evolution. We expect this trend to accelerate as grid operators increasingly recognize the need for firm, dispatchable power from renewable assets.

This trend will drive the scale-up of storage deployments, enabling greater grid flexibility and reliability.

In turn, this development will stimulate demand for advanced storage technologies and innovative business models, such as hybrid power purchase agreements. Overall, this trend will be a key catalyst for the maturation of India’s energy storage market.

From your perspective, what specific policy or regulatory measures can the government take to accelerate ESS deployment across the country?

We believe the government can focus on a few key areas to increase deployment. The government must establish a clear and transparent market mechanism for ancillary services and capacity payments. It must also design a duty differential that enables the localization of the supply chain.

ESS deployment can be mandated as part of grid planning and renewable energy integration strategies to encourage its use.

Targeted incentives or concessional financing should be offered to early adopters of storage technology. The government must support domestic manufacturing of advanced storage technologies to build a resilient supply chain and streamline permitting and approvals for energy storage projects.

On the policy front, the government must create long-term clarity that signals the strategic role of storage in India’s energy transition. These steps will help create a robust, investable ecosystem for energy storage in the country.