India Prioritizes Domestic Manufacturing and Grid Flexibility for Energy Security
Gurdeep Singh, Chairman and Managing Director of NTPC, stated that India's energy strategy must focus on affordable and reliable electricity. He called for greater investment in energy storage, grid flexibility, and domestic technologies to support this goal. Speaking at the 20th India Energy Summit 2026, Singh noted that rising power demand, driven by economic growth, El Niño conditions, artificial intelligence, data centers, and cooling requirements, necessitates a more flexible power system.
Singh stressed that developing domestic alternatives is crucial for energy security, aiming to reduce import dependence. He also indicated that building a domestic manufacturing ecosystem for power sector components would decrease reliance on global supply chains and bolster energy security. Anil Razdan, former power secretary and chairman of the ICC Expert Committee on Energy, added that geopolitical tensions and disruptions in global energy transportation are reshaping energy markets, leading to increased costs. Razdan underscored the importance of storage infrastructure for renewable energy, citing its intermittent nature.