REI Expo 2026 to Drive India's Next Phase of Renewable Energy Growth: Julian Thomas

"REI Expo is where India's renewable energy future is being built, one partnership at a time."

With India rapidly expanding its renewable energy capacity and moving closer to its target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, industry platforms have become critical in connecting technology providers, policymakers, investors and project developers.

Ahead of the 19th Renewable Energy India (REI) Expo, scheduled from October 22–24, 2026 at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, Julian Thomas, Portfolio Director – Energy & Battery Sector, Informa Markets India Pvt. Ltd., shares how REI Expo has evolved into Asia's largest renewable energy exhibition, the growing importance of battery storage, international collaborations, and what attendees can expect from REI Expo 2026.

Q1. REI Expo has grown into Asia's largest renewable energy exhibition. What has driven this remarkable growth?

Julian Thomas:

REI Expo was created with the vision of supporting India's renewable energy ambitions and has grown alongside the country's remarkable clean energy journey.

As India's renewable energy sector has expanded rapidly, REI Expo has evolved into a platform that reflects the industry's growth while bringing together manufacturers, developers, EPC companies, investors, policymakers and technology providers under one roof.

Being part of Informa Markets' global exhibition portfolio enables the event to combine international expertise with deep local market knowledge. This helps strengthen global business partnerships while supporting India's renewable energy ecosystem.

The exhibition has also played an important role in supporting the Make in India initiative by facilitating collaborations between Indian and international companies, encouraging local manufacturing, promoting technology transfer and creating employment opportunities.

Recognising the increasing importance of energy storage, REI Expo is once again being co-located with The Battery Show India, creating a comprehensive platform that covers the complete energy value chain—from renewable generation to battery storage.

Q2. Renewable energy is no longer optional. How does REI 2026 translate this urgency into real business opportunities?

Julian Thomas:

India has ambitious renewable energy targets backed by strong policy support, but many businesses still face challenges in understanding regulations, incentives, subsidies and implementation processes.

REI 2026 addresses this gap by creating direct interaction between policymakers, government agencies, industry associations and project developers.

Participants can gain practical information on:

• Land availability
• Grid connectivity
• State-level incentives
• Project approvals
• Regulatory compliance
• Investment opportunities

One of the biggest developments this year is REI Expo's strategic partnership with SNEC China, creating an alliance between Asia's two largest renewable energy exhibitions.

This collaboration strengthens cooperation between India and global renewable energy markets while encouraging greater technology exchange and international business partnerships.

The exhibition will also feature:

• A strong European delegation
• Germany Pavilion
• Australia Pavilion
• The largest Bio Energy Pavilion ever organised at REI Expo

These international participations demonstrate the growing global confidence in India's renewable energy market.

Q3. How do you see India's renewable energy sector evolving over the next five years?

Julian Thomas:

India's renewable energy sector is entering a transformational phase.

While solar and wind installations will continue to dominate, energy storage will become the industry's biggest growth driver.

Battery technologies will play a vital role in:

• Improving grid stability
• Managing renewable intermittency
• Supporting utility-scale projects
• Enabling reliable power supply

Decentralised renewable energy systems are also expected to expand across rural and semi-urban India.

Other emerging opportunities include:

• Bioenergy
• Offshore wind
• Electric vehicle integration
• Renewable-powered mobility
• Smart energy management

Industry platforms such as REI Expo will continue to support this growth by facilitating investments, partnerships, technology transfer and knowledge sharing across the renewable energy ecosystem.

Q4. What message would you like to share with industry leaders and professionals planning to attend REI Expo 2026?

Julian Thomas:

REI Expo and The Battery Show India will jointly create one of India's largest energy industry gatherings.

Spread across 18 exhibition halls and featuring more than 1,200 brands from India and overseas, the exhibition will showcase the complete renewable energy and battery storage ecosystem.

Visitors will explore solutions across:

• Solar modules
• Inverters
• Battery technologies
• Energy storage systems
• Equipment and machinery
• Smart grid technologies
• AI-based energy management
• Battery recycling
• Manufacturing technologies
• EV charging solutions

The Battery Show India will highlight emerging battery innovations including:

• Lithium-ion batteries
• Solid-state batteries
• Flow batteries
• Battery management systems
• Utility-scale storage
• Residential storage
• Commercial storage
• Battery recycling technologies

The combined exhibition provides visitors with a comprehensive overview of technologies shaping India's clean energy future.

Q5. What makes REI Expo 2026 different from previous editions?

Julian Thomas:

Every edition of REI Expo raises the benchmark, but 2026 introduces several new initiatives designed to create greater business value.

Highlights include:

• Asia's biggest exhibition dedicated to renewable energy and energy storage
• Multiple international country pavilions
• Dedicated Investment Forum
• CEO & CTO Roundtables
• Solar Installer Premier League
• Conference featuring more than 500 global speakers
• Expected attendance of over 60,000 industry professionals

These additions will provide exhibitors and visitors with expanded networking opportunities, investment discussions, strategic insights and access to global renewable energy leaders.

REI Expo 2026 is designed to become the industry's most comprehensive platform for innovation, collaboration and business growth.

About REI Expo 2026

The 19th Renewable Energy India (REI) Expo will be held from October 22–24, 2026, at India Expo Mart Limited (IEML), Greater Noida.

Co-located with The Battery Show India, the exhibition will bring together manufacturers, EPC companies, developers, policymakers, investors, technology providers and energy professionals from across the world.

The event aims to strengthen India's renewable energy ecosystem while supporting innovation, manufacturing, investment and international collaboration across solar, wind, battery storage, bioenergy and emerging clean energy technologies.
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