During GRIDCON 2025, a discussion panel on “Indian Energy Sector in 2047” examined the pivotal factors influencing the future of the power industry in India, including the functions of transmission companies, grid stability, dependability, and resilience, advancements in transmission technology, along with policy and regulatory reforms. High-ranking officials from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), POWERGRID, GRID-INDIA, PwC, and Sterlite Energy deliberated on the evolution of India’s energy sector by 2047, emphasizing the technological, regulatory, and infrastructural advancements essential for developing a secure, sustainable, and efficient grid. Edited excerpts follow…
Hemant Jain
Hemant Jain presented the viewpoint of a technical and strategic organization, stressing the necessity of establishing a resilient energy sector to achieve India’s Vision 2047. He indicated that as India nears its centenary of independence, a robust energy framework will be a fundamental pillar for the nation’s advancement. He acknowledged POWERGRID’s forefront role in developing the interstate transmission system (ISTS) and recognized the contributions of private transmission entities in bolstering the sector. This joint effort, he noted, allowed India to meet a peak demand of 250 GW last year, with expectations to hit 270 GW this year.
Jain pointed out that by 2047, India’s installed power capacity is anticipated to expand fivefold, with nearly 90 percent sourced from non-fossil fuel alternatives, encompassing renewable energy and nuclear power. Nevertheless, he noted a crucial distinction – while installed capacity is set to quintuple, energy demand and peak load are likely to rise only threefold. This indicates a transition in the energy mix, characterized by less reliance on conventional thermal energy and a greater share of variable renewable energy, which presents a significant challenge in maintaining grid reliability. The evolving energy landscape will demand meticulous planning and collaboration among central, state, and private sector stakeholders to ensure stability. Jain commended the collective endeavors of stakeholders to reach the current status, where India can confidently fulfill its energy and peak demand needs. Looking ahead, he underlined the necessity of continued collaboration to tackle the challenges posed by an increasingly renewables-focused grid.
Regulations are crucial for preserving the operational integrity and functionality of the power system to effectively serve consumers. He acknowledged that while India’s ISTS has evolved and continues to do so, the real challenge lies in integrating intra-state transmission networks. Their seamless operation is vital for a well-functioning energy sector.
He emphasized that the synchronization of regulatory procedures is essential to ensure that investors have clarity on compliance obligations and approval processes before entering the sector. A unified regulatory framework will aid in streamlining investments and execution timelines. He also pointed out the importance of regulatory agencies and statutory bodies like the CEA in ensuring that the process remains efficient and favorable to investors, thereby fostering a stable and predictable environment for energy sector growth.
With an eye on the future, he highlighted the vital importance of peak load management, particularly in light of the increasing integration of renewable energy and the anticipated 250 GW of thermal capacity by 2047. He stressed that peak load management strategies, including flattening the load curve, must become a primary focus in forthcoming policies and operational frameworks. He suggested that these strategies should be progressively incorporated into regulatory harmonization efforts to ensure a balanced and resilient grid. Additionally, he emphasized the need for a more experienced and skilled approach to load dispatch capabilities at the state level. Jain called for state load dispatch centers to be equipped with capabilities similar to those of regional load dispatch centers, ensuring that comprehensive load forecasting, generation planning, and resource mobilization are conducted efficiently.
Reshu Madan
Reshu Madan underscored Sterlite Energy’s pivotal role in India’s private transmission sector as well as its international presence, particularly in Brazil. He stressed that investment in transmission infrastructure is essential. However, transmission development is falling behind generation capacity, presenting a significant challenge for the industry. One of the hurdles is the efficiency gap. In India, constructing a 400 kV line takes 1,100-1,200 man-days, while a 765 kV line requires about 1,600 man-days. In comparison, the same work takes 600 man-days in Thailand, 400 man-days in Brazil, and only 200-250 man-days in the US or Europe.
Moving forward, speed, innovation, and mechanization are key for transforming the transmission sector. Sterlite has pioneered the use of heli-cranes in Jammu & Kashmir and drones for projects in the Northeast to speed up their execution. These advancements have significantly reduced project timelines from 48-60 months to 24-36 months. Looking ahead, reducing reliance on manual labor is crucial due to skilled workforce shortages.
Regarding the company’s initiatives, he mentioned that Sterlite Energy is making substantial investments of Rs 4 billion to enhance its conductor manufacturing capacity from 110,000 tonnes to 150,000 tonnes. A portion of this investment will be allocated to establish a greenfield plant in Baroda, which will produce 400 kV cables. These investments and technological advancements align with the nation’s rising energy needs and the goal of creating a resilient transmission network for the future.
Padam Prakash
By 2047, India’s economy is projected to reach $30 trillion-$35 trillion, with a per capita income of approximately $14,000 (up from the current $2,500), necessitating a robust and dynamic energy sector to support such growth. Additionally, the distribution segment is expected to become competitive, with discoms turning profitable and offering consumers the option of supply. Electricity demand is anticipated to nearly double, rising from 250 GW today to 410-430 GW. The installed capacity mix is expected to experience a significant transformation, reaching 2,100 GW by 2047, with substantial capacity derived from solar and wind sources. The transmission segment is also expected to witness key technological advancements, such as the implementation of 1,200 kV ultra-high voltage transmission and the addition of 200,000 circuit kilometers of transmission lines and 1,200 GVA of transformation capacity.
S.C. Saxena
S.C. Saxena emphasized the shifting dynamics of energy demand and supply due to the increasing share of renewable energy. He pointed out that the growing solar generation and managing this during daytime has not posed a problem. However, the real challenge occurs during non-solar hours, when solar generation drops to zero. This shift has led to a redefinition of peak demand periods, making non-solar peaks more critical and challenging than ever before. As additional solar capacity is introduced, fulfilling daytime demand will become more straightforward,
Nonetheless, ensuring valuable resource adequacy during non-solar hours will likely be vital.
In response to this, new regulations and policies have been introduced, requiring resource adequacy assessments extending up to a 10-year outlook. This encompasses reserve planning, ensuring not only demand satisfaction but also readiness for contingencies. He mentioned a recent instance where a significant capacity of solar energy was instantly lost due to cloud cover, stressing the need for robust backup systems.
Regarding transmission, he pointed out that conventional energy flows have historically been east to west, east to north, and east to south, based on the location of conventional power resources. However, with the growth of renewable energy in western, northern, and southern India, electricity transmission flows are evolving. This transformation necessitates substantial upgrades and adjustments in transmission infrastructure to efficiently integrate and manage variable renewable energy sources.
He emphasized that traditionally, the northern region operated as an importing zone, acting as a major demand center. However, recent data showed that during solar hours (10 a.m.-6 p.m.), the entire northern region is now exporting energy, marking a significant shift from historical patterns. This change presents new challenges in transmission operations, particularly the emergence of bidirectional energy flows that fluctuate daily. Effectively managing these dynamic flows will be crucial, as they could lead to congestion issues within the transmission network. He acknowledged that congestion events are already occurring sporadically, highlighting the need for proactive grid management strategies.
Saxena also discussed the importance of adaptability in energy generation, considering the increasing share of renewable energy in the mix. With renewables expected to dominate by 2047, all other energy sources – including thermal – must become more flexible. While the contribution of thermal power is anticipated to decrease, he predicted that some level of thermal generation would still be necessary in 2047.
Dr. Subir Sen
Dr. Subir Sen articulated the roadmap for the transformation of India’s energy sector by 2047, underlining the necessity to reimagine and elevate the sector to achieve dual energy objectives – ensuring energy security and progressing towards net-zero emissions by 2070. He indicated that by 2047, 90 percent of the electricity generation is projected to derive from non-fossil fuel sources, positioning energy independence as a key goal.
Dr. Sen pointed out three essential challenges – referred to as the “three A’s” – that must be tackled to establish a sustainable and resilient energy sector. These include adequacy, accessibility, and affordability. To meet these targets, he emphasized the need for significant expansion of transmission infrastructure, covering bulk transmission highways at both interstate and intra-state levels, as well as deeper integration into the distribution network.
The incorporation of advanced technologies is critical to ensure that the grid functions synchronously and efficiently. He advocated for a “smart” energy system – one that can perceive meaningfully and react in real-time – facilitated by the Internet of Energy (IoE) integrated with the Internet of Things (IoT).
Dr. Sen stressed that the future grid must minimize human intervention by utilizing digitalization, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) for both development and asset management. Predictive analytics will be pivotal, enabling automated corrective measures to avert faults even before they arise. He highlighted digital substations as a crucial component in managing the increasing share of renewable energy, which is inherently variable and intermittent.
A significant change, he explained, will be the shift from grid-following inverters to grid-forming inverters, enhancing grid stability and security. Additionally, energy storage will be vital, especially pumped storage hydropower, which is expected to expand from 4.7 GW currently to 116 GW by 2047. Other energy storage technologies, including battery energy storage systems, are anticipated to reach 47 GW by 2032.
Dr. Sen concluded by stating that achieving these goals would require an equal emphasis on digitalization, decentralization, and automation, ensuring a resilient, efficient, and future-ready energy system for India. He also underscored the importance of nuclear energy in India’s future energy mix, with 100 GW of nuclear capacity expected to come online.
He proposed innovative solutions for lower voltage levels (132 kV-220 kV), such as photonic coatings on conductors and high-capacity conductors, to enhance transmission efficiency. Furthermore, he highlighted the significance of medium voltage DC (MVDC) systems, which should be developed alongside high voltage DC (HVDC) systems (500 kV, 320 kV, 800 kV). He noted that even 33 kV and 66 kV DC systems could prove beneficial, necessitating advancements in both software and infrastructure.
Regarding urbanization and industrialization, he remarked that India’s population is expected to reach 1.7 billion by 2047, complicating the construction of new transmission infrastructure. MVDC networks and underground cable systems will be crucial for power distribution in densely populated regions.
Dr. Sen emphasized the importance of offshore wind energy, referencing initiatives in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, where 10 GW has been identified for development by 2032. Offshore wind power will necessitate dedicated AC-DC transmission infrastructure, undersea power cables, and transnational grid interconnections for optimal resource utilization. He pointed out that the development of underwater grids and deep-sea power transmission will require extensive research and investment. He also discussed the pivotal role of public-private partnerships in R&D to foster innovation, demonstration, and deployment of new technologies.
Finally, he outlined four key priority areas for the power sector in India – energy security and the transition to net-zero by 2047, smart and efficient transmission networks, AI-driven cybersecurity employing a zero-trust approach, and capacity building for emerging technologies.
Naveen Srivastava
Naveen Srivastava reinforced the magnitude of the transformation required in India’s energy sector by 2047. He mentioned that out of the anticipated 2,100 GW of generation capacity by 2047, 1,600-1,700 GW would be derived from renewable sources, significantly altering grid dynamics.
He stressed that with an expected addition of 200,000 ckt km of transmission lines and an increase in transformation capacity to over 4,000 GVA, traditional manual operations would become impractical. Instead, the grid would need to be AI-driven, IoT-enabled, and largely automated. The volume of data produced by such an extensive infrastructure would necessitate smart transmission lines and substations capable of self-operating and making real-time decisions.
Srivastava noted that POWERGRID is already progressing in this direction, with 281 substations currently being operated remotely. POWERGRID aims to transition toward fully digital substations by 2047. The emphasis is now on predictive maintenance through advanced monitoring technologies, including transformer and breaker condition assessment.
Additionally, POWERGRID is focusing on promoting local manufacturing, ensuring that international contractors establishing projects in India invest in factories throughout the nation. Furthermore, to address the growing challenge of right-of-way, POWERGRID is implementing dynamic line rating systems, making existing corridors and transmission lines smarter to accommodate the increased load.
He emphasized that cybersecurity is a critical focus area, given the vast transmission infrastructure network. Investments are being made to enhance cybersecurity measures, ensuring that operational technology and information technology systems remain segregated to mitigate cyber threats.
