'Batteries now cheap enough for solar to meet India's 90% demand': Expert quotes Ember study

By A Representative

Shankar Sharma, Power & Climate Policy Analyst, has urged India’s top policymakers to reconsider the financial and ecological implications of the country’s energy transition strategy in light of recent global developments. In a letter dated April 10, 2026, addressed to the Union Ministers of Finance, Power, New & Renewable Energy, Environment, Forest & Climate Change, and the Vice Chair of NITI Aayog, with a copy to the Prime Minister, Sharma highlighted concerns over India’s ambitious plans for coal gasification and the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR).

Despite the recent milestone of the PFBR at Kalpakkam attaining first criticality, Sharma noted that “India's nuclear energy sector faces significant bottlenecks, including high capital intensity, severe land acquisition delays, legal ambiguity in liability laws, and public resistance due to safety fears.”

He further cautioned that the coal gasification target of 100 million tonnes by 2030 faces hurdles due to the physical properties of domestic coal, massive financial requirements, and climate responsibilities.

Citing a recent Ember analysis, Sharma emphasized that “Batteries are now cheap enough to enable solar to meet 90% of India’s electricity demand economically.” He argued that solar power, supported by battery energy storage systems, microgrids, and distributed generation, should form the centerpiece of India’s energy policy.

According to his analysis, India’s renewable energy potential exceeds 5 million MW, with solar alone accounting for 71 percent. He projected that rooftop and agri-PV technologies could together contribute 5,000 GW, far surpassing the current total installed capacity of 505 GW.

Sharma also pointed to the sharp decline in solar-plus-storage tariffs, which now range between ₹2.70–₹3.33/kWh, making them far more competitive than average residential electricity prices of ₹5.50–₹7.20 per unit, and even higher in states like Maharashtra and Punjab.

He concluded by asking whether citizens can expect “a rational and diligent approach from our authorities to meet our obligations on energy and ecology, and to effectively safeguard the legitimate interests of all sections of our society, especially the vulnerable sections."

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