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As India hosts the BRICS Summit, energy security and economic resilience have emerged as key priorities on the agenda. BRICS now represents nearly half of the world’s population and around 40% of global GDP on a Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) basis. This has increased expectations that the bloc can turn its collective economic strength into concrete progress in clean energy and supply chain security.
For decades, energy security was largely associated with maintaining reserves of oil, gas and coal. However, the clean energy transition has shifted vulnerabilities across the supply chain. Dependence on critical minerals and advanced technologies is creating new challenges for countries seeking to build resilient energy systems.
Debmalya Sen, President, India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), said India’s leadership and the participation of major energy players such as Russia, Iran and the UAE could help move the BRICS Summit from dialogue towards concrete action. He said initiatives such as the BRICS Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and new principles for energy storage could support faster project development, harmonised standards and stronger critical mineral supply chains.
Sen added that the developments present a strategic opportunity for India’s energy storage sector to strengthen technical cooperation, innovation and global leadership in clean technology. Meanwhile, the global battery market has grown by more than 35% in a year, while one major refining country currently controls around 72% of the processed supply of key energy minerals.
Dr. Avishek Kumar, Founder and Director, Sunkonnect, said global battery demand has crossed 1.5 TWh, exposing new vulnerabilities in energy supply chains. According to him, the objective should not be complete self-sufficiency, but diversification of strategic dependencies by mapping supply chains for minerals such as lithium, graphite and rare earths.
He said BRICS countries should distribute manufacturing, processing and recycling capabilities across their economies. Reducing the cost of capital will also be important for scaling clean energy investments. Activating more than the USD 30 billion targeted by the New Development Bank and prioritising local-currency lending could help accelerate investments in the sector.
Kumar M, Founder and CEO, Smart Grid Analytics, said the launch of the BRICS Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and Energy Storage is a positive step, but the focus must now shift towards converting such initiatives into robust and scalable solutions. He noted that global climate finance needs are expected to reach USD 1.3 trillion by 2035, making lower-cost capital for clean energy and infrastructure a key priority.
Akhilesh Bagaria, Co-Founder, NavPrakriti, said the rapidly increasing demand for minerals such as lithium and rare earths means that simply securing resources will not be enough. BRICS countries need to develop capabilities in recycling, reprocessing and innovation to maximise the value of critical materials.
He added that investments in closed-loop supply chains and policies supporting collaboration among member countries can reduce waste and extend the lifecycle of critical materials. This could help BRICS strengthen energy systems while setting new standards for sustainability.
Electric mobility is another important area where BRICS countries can play a leading role. EV adoption is increasing across both consumer and commercial segments in member countries. Integrating renewable energy, critical minerals and digital infrastructure will therefore be important for building a strong and resilient EV ecosystem.
Sandeep Mukherjee, CEO, BLive, said BRICS countries moving towards clean transport need to focus on the entire EV ecosystem rather than only on vehicle deployment. He said the Rio de Janeiro Declaration’s focus on benefit sharing and value addition highlights the need to strengthen local battery manufacturing and recycling capabilities across BRICS economies.
Mukherjee added that the BRICS agenda could encourage greater collaboration in grid modernisation, digital innovation and affordable climate finance. Such cooperation can help build sustainable mobility and energy resilience while addressing the specific requirements of diverse markets.
Industry and energy leaders believe BRICS should use its collective strength to deliver measurable progress in diversification, circularity and energy resilience. The focus now needs to move beyond strategies and declarations towards practical solutions that can shape the next phase of global growth and the clean energy transition.
