In an interview, Ayush Mishra, Co-founder at AmpereHour Energy discuss with TimesTech, how energy storage is moving from a backup solution to a core part of power strategy for Indian commercial and industrial users. Ayush explains how falling battery costs, diesel displacement, tariff arbitrage, and software-led control are helping enterprises achieve faster paybacks, improve reliability, and unlock new value from renewable energy and storage assets.
Read the full interview here:
TimesTech: From your deployments so far, what’s the clearest sign that energy storage is becoming commercially viable for Indian C&I customers?
Ayush: Large enterprises are moving towards procuring energy through multiple channels and not just through the distribution company. This includes Renewable energy through open access, captive onsite solar plants, Power exchange and Diesel based power generation for backup needs. We are beginning to see BESS being added both to offsite solar/wind farms for predictable power injection as well as behind the meter to offset Diesel based power generation as well as offset expensive power during peak hours. In high-tariff states such as Maharashtra and Gujarat, solar-plus-storage projects are already achieving sub-five-year paybacks. Rajasthan is in the process of mandating Storage for offsite solar plants injecting power above the Consumer’s contracted load. This momentum is being further driven by an 80% decline in battery costs since 2015, Increasing arbitrage of ToD tariffs, tightening of banking regulations, emergence of ESaaS models, and the displacement of diesel based power generation.
TimesTech: What are the biggest misconceptions businesses still have about storage economics, and how do your cost curves compare with what you saw five years ago?
Ayush: A significant number of users still think storage costs too much and is mostly just for backup. Modern systems offer numerous benefits; they are instrumental in peak shaving, reducing demand charges, replacing diesel, optimising renewable energy and improving power quality.
Compared to five years ago, battery and system costs have dropped significantly, and they last longer and work better, too. Ultimately, it signifies that customers are getting greater value for their money – more energy, a longer product life, and a better return on their investment.
Forward looking policies are also being drafted wherein BESS can act as a revenue generating asset for consumers through the wide variety of services it can offer the power grid, rather than it being viewed purely as a cost centre.
TimesTech: Your ELINA platform sits at the center of your storage systems. In practical terms, how much does software influence performance, uptime, and dispatch decisions on the ground?
Ayush: In practical terms, ELINA is the brain that converts static hardware into a high-yield financial asset. While batteries provide capacity, our software determines the ROI. By orchestrating multi-objective dispatch, ELINA automates peak-shaving and ToD arbitrage, ensuring the system captures maximum tariff spreads without manual intervention.
Beyond revenue, it safeguards uptime through predictive thermal management, crucial for India’s high-ambient temperatures. By maintaining optimal State of Charge (SoC) and cell balancing, ELINA minimizes degradation, extending battery life by up to 20%. In alignment with the 2025 VGF mandate, this indigenous intelligence ensures both grid compliance and superior operational resilience.
TimesTech: Across your 50+ sites, what patterns have emerged in how different sectors—logistics, FMCG, renewables, mini-grids—use storage and define success?
Ayush: While every sector requires energy storage, its utilisation depends on what they’re trying to do. The logistics and warehousing sector is highly focused on backup power, cutting down on peak energy use and greening their operations completely. Then you have FMCG and manufacturing companies; they’re all about using storage to get better power quality, uninterrupted power to ensure higher uptime for their manufacturing lines and just lower their total energy spending. When it comes to renewable energy, storage is a game-changer because it smooths out solar power, moves energy to where people need it most in the evening, and in doing so, it simply helps plants make more money. For mini-grids and places off the main power grid, having storage means you get steady power, and you really cut down on how much fuel you use. You know, in any business, what really matters isn’t just how much battery power you’ve got. It’s all about the real-world results, things like saving money, keeping operations running smoothly, using less fuel, and having dependable, reliable service.
TimesTech: With 1,000+ MWh under deployment, what do you expect the storage landscape in India for enterprises to look like in 3–5 years, and what gaps still need solving to get there?
Ayush: Over the upcoming years, within the 3-5 year timeframe, we expect to see a lot more centralised and distributed energy storage emerging on both sides of the Meter for commercial and industrial customers. These systems will be a common sight, working hand-in-hand with offsite utility scale solar plants, EV charging infrastructure, and local solar microgrids. These systems will increasingly be software-driven and automated, enabling smarter energy management and better financial outcomes for customers. If this sector is to thrive, there are still crucial elements to rectify a few significant areas. With more than 1,000+ MWh under deployment, companies like Amperehour Energy are helping shape this future by delivering end-to-end solutions that combine hardware, software, and EPC execution into a single, scalable platform.
