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GEAPP Launches $25 Million ‘India Grids of the Future’ Accelerator at Mumbai Climate Week 2026

The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) has introduced a $25 million “India Grids of the Future” Accelerator aimed at modernising and strengthening India’s power distribution systems. The announcement was made during Mumbai Climate Week 2026, signalling a focused effort to prepare the country’s electricity networks for rising consumption and large-scale renewable integration.

The programme seeks to upgrade distribution infrastructure, fast-track renewable and energy storage integration, and improve grid resilience. GEAPP signed Memoranda of Understanding with distribution utilities in Delhi and Rajasthan, designating them as the first “Champion Utilities” under the initiative. A separate agreement was also formalised with the All India DISCOM Association (AIDA) to expand collaboration across the sector.

Power Systems for Viksit Bharat 2047

At the launch, Jayant Sinha, President of Eversource Capital and former Union Minister, underscored the importance of reliable and future-ready electricity systems in achieving India’s long-term development vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He noted that infrastructure-driven growth and coordinated partnerships will be essential to translate clean energy ambitions into measurable results.

The event brought together senior leaders from government agencies, utilities and climate-focused institutions, including Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation; Seema Paul of Sequoia Climate Foundation; and Sujith Nair, CEO of FIDE.

From Access to Abundance

Formally unveiling the accelerator, Dr. Shah remarked that while India has achieved near-universal electricity access, the next phase requires building abundant, dependable and digitally enabled power systems. He described the initiative as a collaborative platform combining public institutions, private capital and philanthropic funding to develop a flexible and technology-driven grid capable of meeting evolving energy demands.

India’s power sector, having largely addressed access gaps, now faces the task of upgrading infrastructure to handle higher renewable penetration and growing consumption. GEAPP’s broader “Grids of the Future” framework aims to support similar transitions across the Global South through coordinated global support and locally implemented solutions.

D4 Framework and 2030 Targets

By 2030, the India accelerator aims to partner with at least 15 utilities, impacting nearly 300 million people. Its transformation roadmap is structured around a four-part “D4” model: digitalisation through advanced analytics and digital twins; distributed integration of decentralised energy resources; democratisation to empower consumer participation; and development of innovation ecosystems to scale emerging technologies.

Between 2026 and 2028, GEAPP intends to mobilise an additional $100 million in blended capital to accelerate implementation, bringing together government bodies, investors, technology providers and philanthropic partners into a unified delivery coalition.

ENTICE 3.0 Also Introduced

Alongside the accelerator, GEAPP announced the launch of ENTICE 3.0 — the latest edition of its Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge. This phase will focus on grid digitalisation and advanced storage solutions, including non-lithium technologies and tools to rapidly modernise grid assets. By linking innovators directly with utilities, policymakers and financiers, the programme aims to speed up commercial deployment of next-generation energy solutions.

The initiatives unveiled at Mumbai Climate Week 2026 reinforce GEAPP’s long-term commitment to supporting India’s clean energy transformation, contributing to climate goals, economic growth, energy security and job creation through 2047.