A significant development is unfolding in India’s battery manufacturing landscape as Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, has engaged in high-level discussions with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), a leading lithium-ion battery maker. The meeting took place at CATL’s headquarters in China, where Adani gained insight into the company’s energy storage system automated production line and manufacturing process. CATL also showcased its technical advancements, including research and development progress on sodium-ion batteries. The visit and strategic talks come at a time when India is poised for explosive growth in the energy storage market, with an estimated 120 GWh battery demand by 2030.
A potential Adani-CATL collaboration could be a game-changer for India’s clean energy ambitions. CATL’s cutting-edge battery technology, combined with Adani’s infrastructure scale and capital depth, could trigger a significant shift in the country’s energy storage landscape. The partnership could lead to the establishment of a gigafactory in India, drastically accelerating the country’s battery manufacturing capabilities and reducing dependence on imports. Industry insiders speculate that LFP cell production could be a focus area, given India’s hot climate and growing need for safe, long-duration stationary storage.
The move aligns with India’s 2030 target of 500 GW non-fossil energy capacity and could ensure a reliable supply for solar and wind projects with co-located battery energy storage systems (BESS). A domestic battery base would also reduce curtailment risks and stabilize the grid. A partnership with Adani could sidestep regulatory scrutiny associated with direct Chinese investments, allowing for technology transfer or licensing through an Indian conglomerate.
The potential impact of the move is significant. Domestic cell production could address the EV sector’s biggest bottleneck – battery costs – boosting adoption and supply chain security for Indian OEMs. Adani’s existing gas networks and growing EV charging footprint could be enhanced with battery storage, creating holistic refueling ecosystems. With India tendering 6.1 GW of standalone energy storage in Q1 2025 alone, CATL’s high-capacity solutions could meet surging utility-scale demand if manufactured locally. Local production could also bring down the cost of BESS solutions, accelerating adoption in the commercial and industrial segment, including data centers, telecom networks, hospitals, and factories. In the long term, a strategic collaboration could catalyze the development of a full battery value chain in India, including raw material refining, cell recycling, and deep R&D.