Solar-plus-batteries could supply 90% of India’s electricity at about INR 5.06/kWh ($56/MWh), according to Ember
It says meeting this level would require about 930 GW of solar and 2,560 GWh of battery storage
Ember’s modeling shows solar-plus-battery storage systems could meet 83% to 92% of demand in the 10 largest states, with costs often lower than current power procurement
Solar power combined with battery energy storage systems (BESS) could meet up to 90% of India’s electricity demand at a competitive cost, according to a new analysis by global energy think tank Ember.
The study estimates that solar and batteries could supply this share of demand at a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of around INR 5.06/kWh ($56/MWh), supported by falling battery prices.
In 2024, India’s electricity demand was just over 2,000 TWh. Achieving a 90% share of this demand would require about 930 GW of solar capacity and 2,560 GWh of battery storage. It will be equivalent to ~4.9 GW of solar and 13.5 GWh of battery capacity for every 1 GW of average electricity demand.
While analysts opine that solar alone could supply close to 100% of all electricity, having reached 150.26 GW as of March 31, 2026, as per the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), it will be an expensive endeavor.
Each increase beyond 90% would require much more solar capacity and battery storage, which will raise overall system costs. Batteries can help shift daytime solar power to evenings and nights, meeting nearly 100% of demand during sunny months and about 88% during peak summer. However, the challenge appears during prolonged cloudy periods when output drops.
Therefore, Ember analysts believe that, with other clean energy sources such as wind, hydro, and nuclear, the country may not need to rely on solar alone.
Nevertheless, solar and batteries are already cost-competitive in several large states, according to Ember’s state-level analysis. It shows modeled LCOE for such systems ranging from INR 4.96/kWh ($55/MWh) in Andhra Pradesh to INR 5.48/kWh ($60/MWh) in Uttar Pradesh. Ember’s modeling is based on solar generation in the highest-potential states that could meet hourly electricity demand, assuming no grid constraints.
It found that solar-plus-battery storage could meet between 83% and 92% of demand in the 10 largest states. A total of 7 states reach 90% or higher share, led by Andhra Pradesh (92%), with a modeled LCOE about 15% cheaper on average than current procurement costs.
States with higher demand during the sunniest months achieve the highest shares, while states with stronger monsoon-season demand, like Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, perform less well.
The main challenge is extended periods of low solar output, especially during the monsoon, and not a lack of battery capacity, states the report.
“The dramatic improvement in battery economics over the past two years has delivered the missing piece that turns sunshine into reliable electricity day and night. For solar-rich countries like India, this makes the case for becoming a global solar superpower,” said Ember’s Global Electricity Analyst, Kostantsa Rangelova, in the analysis.
A Central Electricity Authority (CEA) report estimates India’s solar PV installed capacity expanding to around 509 GW by FY2035-36, making it the largest source of power generation by installed capacity, while BESS capacity will reach 80 GW/321 GWh (see CEA: Solar Set To Become India’s Largest Power Source By 2035-36).