India Energy Stack Powers A Unified Digital Future For The Energy Sector

India is on the path to becoming a $30 trillion economy by 2047. To meet this growth and its Net Zero goals by 2070, the country’s power sector must evolve rapidly. The growing demand for electricity and the rising use of renewable energy, especially rooftop solar by consumers and businesses, are making the grid more complex. Despite investments in technologies like smart meters and SCADA systems, India’s power sector still lacks an integrated digital framework.

Currently, electricity stakeholders like generation companies, transmission companies, and distribution companies operate in silos. This leads to isolated digital systems across regions, creating several challenges. These include the absence of a unique identification system for assets and consumers, high dependency on proprietary digital tools, lack of interoperability, and significant gaps in access to real-time, harmonized data.

To overcome these issues, the Ministry of Power is promoting the India Energy Stack (IES), a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for the power sector. This concept is built upon the learnings from Aadhaar and UPI, which transformed digital identity and financial systems in India. The IES aims to offer a common, standardized, secure, and modular digital framework that supports innovation, integration, and effective energy management.

The IES initiative will introduce a Utility Intelligence Platform (UIP) as its key application layer. UIP will help integrate existing operational systems, improve data sharing across utilities, promote innovation, and support real-time visibility and analytics. It will also empower consumers with tools for better participation in the energy market, offering dynamic pricing and transparency.

The IES structure includes core infrastructure with uniform data protocols, interoperability through standard APIs, support for decentralized innovation, and scalability from local pilots to national implementation. A plug-and-play ecosystem will allow DISCOMs and tech providers to access and use shared data effectively.

The plan includes a 12-month Proof of Concept (PoC) by the Ministry of Power. This pilot will test the IES and UIP through selected utilities and real-world applications. Insights from this will shape a national rollout plan. Alongside, a capacity-building program will prepare the workforce to manage and expand the system.

IES is not just a technological platform but a policy and innovation enabler. It aims to shift the energy sector from fragmented operations to a cohesive, data-driven system. Through modular, interoperable infrastructure, the India Energy Stack will support smarter energy planning, strengthen grid management, and empower consumers and market participants in the coming years.