Battery storage capacity must keep pace with solar energy generation

6 MAY 2026

India scaled a record peak demand of 256.1 GW on April 25 with solar plants supplying 21.5% of the afternoon load — an all-time high, and the clearest signal yet that the country’s installed solar fleet can do real work when the sun is overhead.
But the same day’s full 24-hour ledger told a more sobering story.

Two contrasting realities

Strong daytime performance (e.g., 21.5% of load on April 25 afternoon)
Weak overall contribution (only ~10.8% daily, almost zero at night)
This gap exists because solar is intermittent and storage is insufficient.

Key Trends

The Core Problem: Lack of Storage

Solar generates power only during the day
Demand peaks often extend into evening/night
Without batteries excess daytime power is wasted
2.3 terawatt hours solar power was curtailed in 2025 and 0.9 terawatt hours wasted in October 2025 alone.
Only 0.7 GWh battery storage was operational in India by end-2025, with another 2 GWh expected by December 2026.
In fact, such is the paucity of battery storage that States which are prolific producers of solar power are being asked to halt their supply, lest it compromise the stability of India’s electric grid.
Producers still get paid for curtailed power burdening public finances due to inefficient use of infrastructure .

Falling Battery Costs

Conclusion:

The Centre and States must now focus less on tendering and more on commissioning — pairing every fresh solar auction with mandatory co-located storage and resolving the financing wall facing aggressively bid low-tariff projects.
Solar capacity without storage is a half-built bridge.