India’s energy strategy must prioritise affordable and reliable electricity, supported by greater investment in energy storage, grid flexibility and domestic technologies, NTPC Chairman and Managing Director Gurdeep Singh said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the 20th India Energy Summit 2026, organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in New Delhi, Singh said rising power demand driven by economic growth, El Niño conditions, artificial intelligence (AI), data centres and cooling requirements was increasing the need for a flexible power system.
“The real question is not whether thermal power or renewable energy should take precedence, but whether we can provide power on demand and at an affordable price,” Singh said, according to an official press release.
With coal continuing to play a significant role in meeting India’s electricity needs and renewable capacity expanding, grid flexibility and energy storage are becoming increasingly important, he noted.
He said that developing domestic alternatives to reduce import dependence is also critical to energy security.
Anil Razdan, former power secretary and chairman of the ICC Expert Committee on Energy, said geopolitical tensions and disruptions in global energy transportation were reshaping energy markets, with rising costs posing additional challenges.
“Renewable energy offers enormous potential, but its intermittent nature makes storage an essential part of the power system. Unless adequate storage infrastructure is developed, we will not be able to realise the full potential of renewable energy,” Razdan said.
He also called for strengthening the financial health of power distribution companies (discoms), saying timely revenue recovery and a supportive regulatory environment were essential to sustain investment across the energy value chain.
Ghanshyam Prasad, chairperson of the Central Electricity Authority, stressed the need for advance planning, stronger demand forecasting and policies to address emerging electricity requirements, including those from data centres.
Building a domestic manufacturing ecosystem for power sector components would help reduce dependence on global supply chains and strengthen energy security, he said.
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