MAINS Current Affairs includes Energy Storage in India for Scaling Up Renewable Energy Capacity & SIPRI Yearbook 2026: Global Nuclear Trends and India’s Nuclear Capability

ENERGY

1. Energy Storage in India for Scaling Up Renewable Energy Capacity

Context: The increasing gap between electricity generation and consumption patterns has made Energy Storage Systems (ESS) essential for maintaining grid stability, ensuring reliable power supply, and supporting large-scale renewable energy integration.

India’s Renewable Energy Status

• India is rapidly expanding renewable energy to meet its climate commitments and energy security goals.
• Renewable sources contribute nearly 53% of India’s installed power capacity (283 GW out of 532 GW), with solar power alone contributing more than 150 GW.
• However, renewable sources face the challenge of intermittency, as solar and wind power generation varies depending on weather and time.

What is Energy Storage?

• Energy storage refers to technologies that store surplus electricity generated during periods of high production and supply it when electricity demand increases.
• It acts as a bridge between electricity generation and consumption by helping in demand-supply balancing, reducing renewable energy wastage, improving grid reliability, managing peak demand, and ensuring round-the-clock renewable power.

Global Energy Storage Scenario

• Pumped Hydro Storage (PHS)
• Global installed pumped hydro capacity is around 160 GW, with leading countries including China (~66 GW), Japan (~21.8 GW), and the United States (~18.9 GW).
• Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
• Global battery storage capacity stands around 270 GW, with 108 GW added in 2025 according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), representing a 40% increase over 2024.
• China contributed nearly 60% of global battery additions, followed by the United States and Europe.

India’s Energy Storage Status

• Current Capacity
• India currently has:
• Battery Energy Storage System (BESS): ~0.27 GW
• Pumped Hydro Storage (PHS): ~7.2 GW

Future Requirement

• The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) projects India will require 174 GW/888 GWh storage capacity by 2035–36, including:
• BESS: 80 GW/321 GWh
• PHS: 94 GW/567 GWh
• Storage systems of 4–6 hours duration will become crucial for renewable energy integration after 2030.

Expansion Pipeline

• Pumped Hydro Projects
• India has 13,120 MW under construction, 9,580 MW approved, and nearly 75,000 MW under survey and investigation to expand long-duration storage capacity.
• Battery Storage Projects
• Around 10,658 MW/28,739 MWh battery projects are under construction, while 22,347 MW/69,836 MWh are under tendering.

Major Energy Storage Technologies

• Pumped Hydro Storage (PHS)
• PHS stores energy by moving water between reservoirs and is the most mature large-scale storage technology.
  • Advantages: It provides long-duration storage, high reliability, longer life, and large-scale storage capacity.
  • Limitations: It requires suitable geography, high investment, and faces land acquisition and environmental concerns.

Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

• BESS stores electricity through electrochemical processes, with Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries dominating the market and accounting for over 90% of global battery storage additions in 2025.
• Advantages: It provides quick response, modular installation, and is suitable for short-duration storage of 4–6 hours.
• Limitations: Dependence on critical minerals, battery degradation, and import reliance remain major concerns.

Emerging Storage Technologies

• Concentrated Solar Thermal Storage
• It uses mirrors and molten salts to store solar heat, which is later converted into electricity.
• Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES)
• It stores compressed air underground and releases it to operate turbines during peak demand.
• Flywheel and Gravity Storage
• These technologies store mechanical energy and provide quick power support for grid stability.

Challenges in India’s Energy Storage Sector

• Import Dependence
  • India imports nearly 75–80% of lithium-ion cells, while cells contribute about 80% of battery system cost, creating supply-chain and geopolitical risks.
• High Capital Cost
  • Large-scale battery storage requires high initial investment, making commercial deployment challenging.
• Limited Domestic Manufacturing
  • Insufficient domestic production of advanced battery cells and components affects India’s self-reliance.
• Critical Mineral Dependence
  • Limited availability of lithium, cobalt, nickel, and graphite increases dependence on imports.
• Environmental Concerns
  • Pumped hydro projects require large land areas and may face biodiversity, displacement, and clearance-related challenges.
• Grid Integration Issues
  • Existing transmission networks require upgrades and improved regulations to support large-scale storage deployment.
• Battery Waste Management
  • Increasing battery usage may create waste challenges as India’s recycling ecosystem is still developing.

Government Initiatives Promoting Energy Storage

• National Energy Storage Planning
  • CEA’s projection of 174 GW/888 GWh storage requirement by 2035–36 provides a roadmap for renewable energy integration.
• Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for BESS
  • VGF improves financial viability of battery storage projects and accelerates deployment.
• PLI Scheme for ACC Batteries
  • The Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cells promotes domestic battery manufacturing and reduces import dependence.
• National Programme on ACC Battery Storage
  • It encourages indigenous development of next-generation battery technologies for energy security.
• Pumped Storage Development
  • India is accelerating approval and construction of pumped hydro projects to strengthen long-duration storage.
• Energy Storage Obligation (ESO)
  • Introduced under Renewable Purchase Obligations, it requires designated entities to procure electricity from storage-backed renewable sources.
• Green Energy Corridor Programme
  • It strengthens transmission infrastructure for efficient integration of renewable energy.
• National Green Hydrogen Mission
  • Green hydrogen can act as a future long-duration energy storage solution using renewable energy.
• PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana
  • It promotes rooftop solar adoption and creates opportunities for household-level battery storage systems.
• Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022
  • It introduces Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to encourage battery recycling and sustainable disposal.
• Critical Mineral Strategy
  • India is securing overseas mineral assets and increasing domestic exploration to support battery manufacturing.

Way Forward

• Build Domestic Manufacturing
  • India should strengthen local production of battery cells, components, and advanced storage technologies to reduce import dependence.
• Secure Critical Minerals
  • Strategic partnerships and domestic exploration of lithium and other minerals should be expanded.
• Encourage Innovation
  • Investment in R&D for next-generation batteries, hydrogen storage, and alternative technologies should be increased.
• Improve Grid Infrastructure
  • Smart grids, transmission upgrades, and digital monitoring systems should be developed for renewable integration.
• Promote Global Partnerships
  • International cooperation through platforms like the International Solar Alliance (ISA) can support technology transfer and investment.

Conclusion

Energy storage is the backbone of India’s renewable energy transition, enabling reliable, affordable, and clean electricity.

A balanced strategy focusing on battery storage, pumped hydro, domestic manufacturing, critical minerals, and innovation will help India achieve energy security and its clean energy goals.

INTERNATIONAL

2. SIPRI Yearbook 2026: Global Nuclear Trends and India’s Nuclear Capability

Context: According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Yearbook 2026, India modestly expanded its nuclear arsenal in 2025 amid increasing global dependence on nuclear deterrence and rising geopolitical tensions.

Major Highlights of SIPRI Yearbook 2026

• Increasing Role of Nuclear Weapons
  • Nuclear-armed countries are giving greater importance to nuclear deterrence in their security strategies, reversing earlier efforts towards reducing nuclear dependence.
• Nuclear Modernisation
  • All nine nuclear-armed states — United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel — continued modernising their nuclear arsenals and developing new delivery systems in 2025.
• Global Nuclear Stockpile
  • The estimated global nuclear inventory reached around 12,187 nuclear warheads (January 2026), with Russia and the USA together possessing nearly 83% of all stockpiled nuclear weapons.
• Weakening Nuclear Disarmament
  • The post-Cold War trend of dismantling old nuclear weapons is slowing, while deployment of new and advanced weapons is increasing.
• Declining Arms Control Framework
  • Strategic dialogue among major nuclear powers has weakened, increasing concerns over the future of global arms control agreements.
• Rising Nuclear Escalation Risks
  • Advances in missile technology, artificial intelligence, cyber warfare, and space-based systems are making nuclear deterrence more complex and increasing chances of miscalculation.

India-Specific Observations

• Expansion of Nuclear Arsenal
  • India’s nuclear arsenal increased from 180 warheads to around 190 warheads in 2025, reflecting gradual strengthening of its deterrence capability.
• Nuclear Modernisation
  • India continues to improve its nuclear capability through long-range missiles, MIRV technology, and stronger sea-based nuclear systems.
• Strategic Concerns
  • India’s nuclear planning is increasingly influenced by China’s growing military power, while the India-Pakistan nuclear equation remains important.
• Military Spending
  • India remained the world’s fifth-largest military spender in 2025, with defence expenditure reaching $92.1 billion, an increase of 8.9% from the previous year.
• Arms Import
  • India remained the second-largest importer of major weapons during 2021–25, accounting for 2% of global arms imports.

What is Nuclear Disarmament?

• Nuclear disarmament refers to the process of reducing or eliminating nuclear weapons through unilateral or mutual agreements.
• It may involve reducing the number of weapons or completely removing certain categories of nuclear arms.

Major Treaties Related to Nuclear Disarmament

• Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), 1968
  • Entered into force in 1970.
  • Aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and promote peaceful nuclear cooperation and disarmament.
  • Divides countries into Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) and Non-Nuclear Weapon States (NNWS).
  • India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea are not parties to the NPT.
• Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)
  • Adopted by the United Nations in 2017, it prohibits the development, testing, production, possession, transfer, and use of nuclear weapons, although nuclear-armed states have not joined it.
• Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), 1996
  • CTBT aims to ban all nuclear explosions for military and civilian purposes but has not entered into force due to non-ratification by some required states.
• Outer Space Treaty, 1967
  • It prohibits the placement of weapons of mass destruction in outer space and promotes peaceful use of outer space.
  • All nine nuclear-armed states are parties to this treaty.

India’s Nuclear Weapons Programme

• Smiling Buddha (1974)
  • India conducted its first nuclear test at Pokhran under the code name “Smiling Buddha”, marking the beginning of its nuclear weapons capability.
• Operation Shakti (1998)
  • A series of nuclear tests conducted at Pokhran formally established India as a nuclear weapons state.
• Nuclear Triad
  • India developed land-based missiles, air-based delivery systems, and sea-based nuclear capabilities to ensure credible deterrence.

India’s Nuclear Doctrine

• No First Use (NFU)
  • India follows a policy of not using nuclear weapons first unless attacked by nuclear weapons.
• Non-Use Against Non-Nuclear States
  • India has committed not to use nuclear weapons against countries that do not possess nuclear weapons.
• Retaliation Only Policy
  • India maintains nuclear weapons only for deterrence and follows a policy of credible retaliation.
• Support for Global Disarmament
  • India supports universal, non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament through multilateral legal arrangements.

Challenges Ahead

• Rising Nuclear Competition
  • Growing rivalry among major powers may increase nuclear arms competition and weaken global stability.
• Emerging Technologies
  • AI, cyber warfare, hypersonic missiles, and space technologies can create new risks in nuclear decision-making.
• Weak Arms Control System
  • Declining cooperation between nuclear powers threatens existing disarmament frameworks.

Conclusion

The SIPRI Yearbook 2026 highlights a changing global security environment where nuclear weapons are again gaining strategic importance.

For India, maintaining a credible minimum deterrence, strengthening indigenous defence capabilities, and supporting global nuclear disarmament remain essential for balancing national security with international stability.

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