Business

India’s power grid digitalisation accelerates with AI-driven transformation amid energy shift

Saturday, 29 November 2025 7:41AM UTC

India is poised for a decade of transformative power grid digitalisation as it balances rising energy demand, increasing renewable capacity, and the integration of distributed energy resources through advanced AI analytics, signalling a significant shift in its energy landscape.

India stands on the cusp of a transformative decade in power grid digitalisation as it confronts rising energy demand and evolving consumption patterns. The country’s power system is rapidly changing due to urbanisation, industrial electrification, and the growing penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs) such as rooftop solar panels, electric vehicles (EVs), and behind-the-meter storage. According to Aveg Agarwal, India Business Head at Bidgely, this complex landscape demands more than just physical infrastructure expansion; it calls for sophisticated, AI-driven analytics to provide granular visibility into consumption, DER presence, and grid constraints. His company’s UtilityAI Pro platform, designed with a security-first architecture, aims to help Indian distribution companies (DISCOMs) transition from reactive grid operations to predictive and preventive management by consolidating data insights while maintaining strict data ownership and cybersecurity standards.

Agarwal emphasises that India's utility sector is moving towards fully integrating DERs into grid planning, forecasting, and daily operations, enabling dynamic management of load peaks and EV charging through consumer-specific behaviour profiles developed via AI. The platform allows forecasting and aggregation of DER impacts at transformer, feeder, and substation levels, providing a unified intelligence layer that supports operational risk identification and demand-side management, a pressing need amid India's ambitious grid digitisation and rollout of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). The solution aligns with the India Energy Stack vision and addresses critical issues like electricity theft detection, AT&C loss reduction, and consumer empowerment through appliance-level insights.

This emphasis on digital transformation and AI comes against a backdrop of fluctuating power generation trends in India. The year 2025 has seen contrasting patterns: a record surge in clean energy output during the first half, with renewables (solar, wind), hydro, and nuclear reaching a 25% share of the total power mix, while fossil fuel generation notably declined. This pivot to renewables aligns with India’s strategic ambition to reduce reliance on coal and imported fuels, and increase capacity to 500 GW of non-fossil fuel power by 2030.

Yet, challenges remain. The Indian Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has taken steps to optimise grid utilisation by considering auctions for unused transmission slots reserved for delayed renewable projects, which currently amount to around 31.8 GW. Concurrently, the Central Transmission Utility has revoked grid access for approximately 17 GW of stalled renewable projects to prioritise those closer to completion, highlighting the ongoing tension between rapid capacity expansion and infrastructure readiness. The government’s regulatory tightening, requiring stable project ownership and curbs on post-connectivity fuel or energy source changes, reflects efforts to prevent exploitation and ensure efficient grid use.

Despite the impressive growth in clean energy, coal remains integral to India’s energy future. While clean capacity additions outpace many countries, coal-fired power still accounted for about 64.8% of electricity generation as of mid-2025, with new coal projects underway alongside renewable installations. Industry analysts note that the sheer pace of India’s energy demand growth, averaging 7% annually since 2021, necessitates a diversified approach, with coal continuing as a significant baseload source even as renewables scale up. This reliance is also shaped by economic and operational factors including regional resource availability and infrastructure investments.

The wider power sector landscape is marked by volatility. In recent months, India has experienced sharp declines in electricity generation due to heavy monsoon rains and subdued industrial demand, leading to reduced coal output and profitability challenges for coal producers. At the same time, renewable energy generation has risen robustly, underscoring the sector’s resilience and strategic importance.

Looking forward to 2030, Agarwal envisions AI-driven utilities evolving into autonomous, customer-centric platforms capable of managing complex DER ecosystems seamlessly. These networks will feature real-time fault prediction, automated dispatch, hyper-personalised energy services, and coordinated management of distributed assets like EVs and home solar units. Such innovation promises to enhance grid reliability, sustainability, and cost efficiency, fundamentally reshaping India’s power landscape in line with its broader energy transition goals.

📌 Reference Map:

^[1] (Energetica India) - Paragraphs 1, 2, 6, 8, 9
^[2] (Reuters) - Paragraphs 3, 4
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Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.energetica-india.net/powerful-thoughts/online/aveg-agarwal - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/indias-power-regulator-mulls-auctioning-unused-grid-slots-renewable-projects-2025-11-26/ - India's Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) is considering auctioning unused transmission connectivity granted to renewable energy projects that remain unutilised due to delays in power purchase agreements (PPAs). Approximately 31.8 gigawatts of grid access are currently underutilised, hindering the rollout of clean energy. The CERC's proposals include giving developers with PPAs delayed over 12 months the option to shift to a land-based project route with defined deadlines, implementing performance guarantees, allowing substitution of letters of award, or auctioning surrendered connectivity rights. Future grid access may require prior PPAs or be granted through auctions only, emphasising that grid slots should be allocated to committed developers.
https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/india-cuts-fossil-electricity-output-as-clean-generation-hits-new-peak-2025-09-02/ - In the first half of 2025, India achieved a significant milestone in clean electricity generation, producing a record 236 terawatt hours (TWh), a 20% increase from the same period in 2024. This surge, driven by a 29% rise in wind power, a 25% increase in solar, and record outputs from nuclear and hydro sources, allowed the country to reduce fossil fuel generation by 4%, with coal-fired power down by 3% and gas-fired output falling sharply by 34%. Clean energy accounted for 25% of India's total power mix during this time, up from 21% in 2024 and reached 31% in June, the highest monthly share to date. This growth aligns with India’s strategic push to decrease fossil fuel reliance, especially amid international pressure over Russian oil imports and ongoing calls to boost liquefied natural gas imports from the U.S. As clean technologies and domestic production of solar panels and batteries expand, India's overall energy production is expected to grow while the share of fossil-fuel use potentially peaks, reducing dependency on imports and aligning with global environmental expectations.
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/indias-october-power-output-sees-sharpest-drop-since-covid-rains-dampen-demand-2025-11-03/ - In October 2025, India experienced its sharpest decline in electricity generation since the COVID-19 pandemic, with total output falling 6% year-on-year to 142.45 billion kWh. This drop was primarily driven by unusually heavy rainfall and reduced industrial activity, which lowered electricity and cooling demands. The timing of major festivals in October also contributed to diminished industrial power consumption. Coal-fired power generation, which typically supplies about 75% of India's electricity, dropped 13.2% compared to the previous year, marking the largest decline since June 2020. As a result, Coal India, the country's leading coal producer, saw its worst profit drop in five years during Q3 and reduced its production by 10% in October. In contrast, renewable energy output grew significantly, increasing 30.2% year-on-year to 19.75 billion kWh. This trend reflects a broader shift away from fossil fuels amid changing economic and weather conditions.
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/indias-power-output-rises-fastest-pace-five-months-industrial-boost-2025-09-02/ - In August 2025, India experienced its fastest rise in power output in five months, driven by a surge in manufacturing activity due to strong demand. Electricity generation increased by 4% compared to the previous year, marking a significant boost in coal-fired power for the first time in five months. Although coal remains the dominant source, accounting for 64.8% of power generation, this figure has slightly increased from July's five-year low of 64.3%. Renewable energy saw robust growth, with a 23% rise in solar and wind output and a 9% increase in hydropower, contributing significantly to the total power output of 161.24 billion kWh. This boost comes despite the year's earlier slowdown caused by heavy monsoon rains and broader industrial weakness. With industrial activity picking up and the monsoon ending, power demand is expected to increase further in the coming months. India added a record 25.4 GW of renewable capacity in the first seven months of 2025 and aims to reach 500 GW of non-fossil fuel power capacity by 2030, continuing efforts to reduce reliance on coal.
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/india-revokes-grid-access-17-gw-clean-energy-projects-says-source-2025-09-08/ - India has revoked grid access for approximately 17 gigawatts (GW) of delayed clean energy projects to prioritise operational or near-completion projects. The Central Transmission Utility of India Ltd (CTUIL) communicated this decision to major renewable energy companies, including Adani Green Energy, ReNew Power, NTPC, Avaada Group, JSW Energy, and ACME Solar. The affected projects are primarily located in states rich in renewable resources, such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. This move aligns with India's effort to meet increasing power demand and streamline grid connectivity in line with its goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. The country’s transmission infrastructure is currently lagging behind the rapid growth in energy generation capacity. The revocations followed manual project inspections and were implemented during the June quarter after prior warnings. While companies, like JSW Energy, have appealed to the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), no interim relief has been granted yet. Additionally, India recently tightened regulations to prevent exploitation of grid access rules, mandating stable project ownership and banning post-connectivity changes to energy sources.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/king-coal-to-stay-top-in-india-despite-big-clean-power-pipeline-maguire-2025-02-27/ - Despite India's significant investment in clean energy, coal is projected to remain its dominant power source. The country currently has the world's second-largest clean energy construction pipeline, after China, with about 56,000 MW of new renewable, hydro, and nuclear capacity under development. Clean energy projects now make up two-thirds of India's new power capacity and could boost total clean energy output by 35% upon completion. However, this progress parallels the construction of 30,000 MW of new coal power capacity and another 55,000 MW in pre-construction, ensuring coal continues to account for over half of India's energy mix. India's ongoing dependence on coal is driven by its rapid energy demand growth—averaging 7% annually since 2021—outpacing global and Chinese averages. To meet this surge, Indian utilities are significantly expanding total power capacity, including solar, wind, hydro, and nuclear development. Plans for clean energy in pre-construction stages exceed those of the U.S., indicating major growth potential. However, coal's scale is also expanding, increasing domestic consumption and imports, particularly from Indonesia. Inland and coastal coal projects underline coal's enduring role in India's energy future, despite the acceleration of clean energy efforts.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative introduces Bidgely's UtilityAI Pro platform, launched in October 2025, indicating recent content. However, similar discussions about AI in India's power grid digitalisation have appeared in various sources, such as the EmPOWER AI 2025 conference in September 2025. ([en.antaranews.com](https://en.antaranews.com/news/378809/empower-ai-2025-conference-unites-energy-and-ai-innovators-building-the-intelligent-grid-of-the-future?utm_source=openai)) The report's freshness is bolstered by the inclusion of recent data and events. Nonetheless, the presence of similar content in other outlets within the past two months suggests a moderate freshness score.

Quotes check

Score: 7

Notes: The report includes direct quotes from Aveg Agarwal, India Business Head at Bidgely. A search reveals that similar statements have been made by Agarwal in other recent publications, such as the EmPOWER AI 2025 conference announcement. ([en.antaranews.com](https://en.antaranews.com/news/378809/empower-ai-2025-conference-unites-energy-and-ai-innovators-building-the-intelligent-grid-of-the-future?utm_source=openai)) This repetition suggests that the quotes may have been reused, potentially affecting the originality score.

Source reliability

Score: 6

Notes: The report originates from Energetica India, a platform that aggregates content from various sources. While it provides valuable insights, the lack of direct attribution to primary sources raises questions about the reliability of the information presented. The absence of direct links to original sources makes it challenging to verify the authenticity of the claims, leading to a moderate reliability score.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The report discusses Bidgely's UtilityAI Pro platform and its applications in India's power grid digitalisation. The platform's features and objectives align with Bidgely's known initiatives, as detailed in their official announcements. ([businesswire.com](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251023698381/en/Bidgely-Introduces-UtilityAI-Pro-Giving-Global-Utilities-and-Energy-Providers-the-First-Vertical-AI-Platform-that-Transforms-Data-into-Strategic-Insights?utm_source=openai)) The inclusion of recent data and events, such as the EmPOWER AI 2025 conference, supports the plausibility of the narrative. However, the reliance on aggregated content without direct attribution to primary sources slightly diminishes the overall credibility.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The report presents a timely discussion on India's power grid digitalisation and Bidgely's UtilityAI Pro platform. While it incorporates recent data and events, the reuse of quotes and reliance on aggregated content without direct attribution to primary sources raise concerns about originality and source reliability. These factors contribute to a moderate confidence in the report's overall credibility.

India
Power Grid
Digitalisation
AI
Renewables