The inaugural Green Growth Investors Series took place in May 2024 at the Consulate General of India in New York with the theme “Powering the Future: Lithium-Ion Batteries.” The event convened global leaders, experts, and entrepreneurs to spotlight the role of batteries as the backbone of the green energy revolution.

Lithium-ion batteries drive electrification across transport, consumer electronics, and energy storage systems, but their full life cycle presents both opportunities and challenges. From sourcing critical minerals to end-of-life recycling, each stage of the value chain requires innovation, policy alignment, and investment. The first edition of the series laid the foundation for cross-border collaboration to strengthen supply chains, scale domestic manufacturing, and embed circularity in the global battery economy.

The Green Growth Investors Series is more than an event, it is a platform to align government policy, private sector innovation, and investor capital across India, USA, Israel, and the UAE, accelerating progress toward sustainable technologies that deliver both climate action and energy security.

What was discussed in the event?

Opening Segment
The session began with a welcome from the Consulate and set the tone for exploring the role of lithium-ion batteries in achieving a clean energy transition.

Critical Minerals to Circular Batteries: India’s Path to Energy Security
Experts underscored how securing lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese through diversified supply chains is a prerequisite for the clean energy transition. Building advanced gigafactories in India can reduce import dependence, create high-value jobs, and anchor global technology partnerships. Entrepreneurs highlighted the role of batteries in powering EVs, consumer electronics, and grid-scale renewable storage, essential for electrification and digital growth. At the same time, innovators showcased urban mining and recycling solutions to recover critical minerals from spent batteries, reinforcing a circular ecosystem. Policymakers emphasized that Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), robust quality standards, and international cooperation will be central to India’s leadership in sustainable battery value chains.

Closing Segment
The event closed with a call to catalyze investment and innovation across the battery value chain, followed by networking to foster partnerships and pilot projects.

Key points from the event

• Diversified supply chains for lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese are essential for clean energy security.

• Scaling advanced cell manufacturing in India can reduce import reliance and create high-value jobs.

• Grid-scale storage is critical for renewable energy reliability.

• Urban mining and recycling can unlock secondary mineral sources and enable a circular battery ecosystem.

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and cross-border cooperation are vital for global recycling standards.

• Two U.S. startups entered the Indian market to deploy energy storage pilots.

• Early-stage founders secured pilot project support and strategic partnerships in India.