India’s renewable energy landscape is undergoing a shift, with standalone, vanilla power projects giving way to hybrid projects that combine energy storage systems to ensure a round-the-clock and firm power supply, as well as grid stability. The sector is also navigating issues related to land acquisition, regulatory hurdles, and a power transmission infrastructure shortage.

Speaking with Mercom India, Amit Jain, CEO and Country Manager for India, MD Renewables and Batteries India, and South-East Asia at Engie, discussed how his company is navigating this complex landscape and ensuring timely project completion.

What is ENGIE’s primary focus segment in India as an independent power producer?

ENGIE has been part of India’s energy journey for over 30 years, and for the past decade, we have been actively contributing to the country’s renewable energy landscape. Over the past decade, we have developed a robust portfolio of utility-scale projects. Today, ENGIE’s primary focus in India is the large-scale development of renewable energy, particularly solar and wind, with a growing emphasis on hybrid systems and storage solutions

We see immense opportunities in India – ones that align closely with ENGIE’s vision of accelerating the energy transition worldwide. Our ambition is to expand our portfolio to 7 GW by 2030, with approximately 75% of this growth coming from solar.

Globally, ENGIE has positioned itself as an energy transition utility, committed to an integrated model that combines clean electricity and green molecules, such as hydrogen. We see the value of this integrated approach in India as well.

How is ENGIE India addressing grid integration challenges to ensure the timely commissioning of its renewable projects?

As solar and wind power become integral to national energy mixes, grid integration becomes a critical challenge for the continued development of renewable energy.

At ENGIE, we address this challenge with a combination of technology, strategic planning, and adaptability. We leverage advanced artificial intelligence (AI)-driven energy solutions to optimize production, manage grid flexibility, and align renewable output with real-time demand, helping maintain grid stability, even in constrained environments. Our Supply & Energy Management (S&EM) platform manages market risks, optimizes energy trading, and offers tailored flexibility solutions. This enables our renewable assets to be more responsive to market signals and grid conditions. It also helps unlock the full value of intermittent generation, enhancing the financial and operational viability of variable renewables. By blending solar, wind, and future storage solutions, we ensure a more consistent and dispatchable supply of round-the-clock renewable energy. Our AI-based forecasting tools further enhance our ability to manage intermittency and improve system efficiency. We are also actively evaluating co-located storage through our BESS to increase project reliability and support grid resilience.

As Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) gain prominence in grid stabilization and peak demand management, how is ENGIE planning to scale up BESS deployment in India?

BESS are becoming central to enabling a more flexible and reliable grid, especially as renewable penetration deepens. At ENGIE, we see immense potential in the Indian BESS market, driven by the growing need for dispatchable clean power and reduced dependence on fossil-based balancing solutions.

We are actively evaluating co-located solutions to operate standalone BESS assets in India, pairing storage directly with renewables to enhance dispatchability and better address peak demand. Globally, we have commissioned 2.3 GW out of our target of 10 GW of battery storage by 2030. We fully intend to leverage this global expertise and technical know-how, as battery storage is a strategic enabler of India’s clean energy transition.

What technological innovations is ENGIE leveraging to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness in large-scale solar projects?

Scaling our renewable energy portfolio efficiently and responsibly through technology is a core part of ENGIE’s strategy. Across our large-scale solar projects in India, we are deploying innovations that not only enhance performance but also drive long-term cost optimization.

Our sites, such as the 200 MW Raghanesda solar project in Gujarat and the 140 MW Bhadla project in Rajasthan, have integrated dry robotic cleaning systems. These automated solutions maintain panel efficiency without using water, a critical advantage in arid regions, while also reducing manual intervention and operational costs.

We also leverage AI across multiple aspects of our operations. Our AI-based forecasting and market integration tools enable dynamic energy dispatch, improve price responsiveness, and better align production with grid demand, making our assets more agile and market-ready. These systems also support predictive maintenance, helping us detect and resolve potential issues before they escalate, thereby improving uptime and reliability.

How does ENGIE navigate India’s evolving regulatory landscape, and what policy changes would you recommend to foster a more stable investment environment?

We remain closely aligned with India’s evolving policy landscape, whether on hybrid and storage regulations, battery incentives, or increased solar allocations. We aim to build and adapt our operations in support of the country’s broader energy transition and climate commitments.

We actively engage with the government, industry, and local communities to support practical and sustainable policy implementation. Our AI-driven systems help us stay agile and optimize operations, enabling real-time responsiveness to market fluctuations.

A key enabler of this approach is our S&EM business unit. Acting as a strategic bridge between supply and demand, the S&EM team undertakes detailed mapping of power requirements across geographies and aligns them with our upcoming renewable generation. This anticipatory approach allows us to identify potential constraints, such as substation congestion or transmission delays, well in advance. By proactively coordinating with utilities and regulatory bodies, we secure timely grid clearances and optimize project execution timelines.

Through this integrated strategy, we not only reduce the risk of delays and curtailment but also ensure that our solar and wind assets are positioned to deliver clean power exactly when and where it is needed most, supporting both grid stability and India’s clean energy ambitions.

The renewables sector is experiencing a shortage of skilled labor. What steps is ENGIE taking to build, train, and retain a capable workforce for its operations in India?

ENGIE India is actively addressing the skilled labor shortage in the renewable sector through a multi-pronged workforce development strategy. We have trained over 600 individuals as certified solar module technicians in partnership with the National Skill Development Corporation.

Workforce capability is also embedded into our operational model. Over 80% of our site-level workforce is recruited locally. We also invest in ongoing training, health and safety upskilling, and professional development to ensure long-term employee growth and retention.

What are ENGIE India’s upcoming investment and expansion plans in the renewable energy space? What key drivers and challenges do you foresee, and how is the company preparing to address them?

ENGIE India is entering a strong growth phase. We currently operate 1.1 GW of renewable capacity, with over 2.3 GW under construction across 22 projects in seven states. Our ambition is to expand this to 7 GW by 2030, with approximately 75% of the capacity coming from solar. To support this, we plan to invest approximately €3.5 billion (~$4.04 billion) in India by the end of the decade.

A key element of this strategy is integrating BESS into our upcoming solar and hybrid projects, enabling us to deliver more reliable, round-the-clock renewable energy.

Rising energy demand, a supportive policy environment, and evolving storage frameworks make India a clear priority market for ENGIE.

We are addressing challenges of land acquisition, grid connectivity, and regulatory complexity through strategic site selection, deeper stakeholder collaboration. We have also strengthened internal capabilities by deploying AI-driven energy management systems and an expanding local engineering team.