India Energy Stack

Why in news?

The Ministry of Power (MOP) initiates stakeholder survey to build India Energy Stack (IES), a digital backbone for power sector.

• Shift in power sector – India’s power sector is undergoing a paradigm shift driven by grid digitalization, renewable energy integration, decentralized power generation, and consumer-centric reforms.
• To support this transformation, the MOP has conceptualized the IES — a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for the power sector.

DPI – Are shared, interoperable digital systems that enable the efficient delivery of public and private services at scale by combining open technologies, public-private partnerships, and market innovation.

• IES – It is envisioned as a standardised, modular, and open-source digital infrastructure for the power sector.
• Aim – To create a unified framework that supports unique digital IDs for assets, consumers and transactions; enabling better tracking, transparency and management across the ecosystem.
• Nodal agency – REC Ltd (Rural Electrification Corporation Limited), a central public sector undertaking, will serve as the programme nodal agency for the IES initiative.
• Utility Intelligence Platform (UIP) – As part of this initiative, UIP will be developed using standardized and open APIs and protocols, in collaboration with selected power distribution utilities.
• This platform will help unlock data from various IT/OT systems to drive innovation and efficiency across the sector.
• Stakeholder Mapping Survey – To ensure the IES and its associated solutions are comprehensive and future-ready; the Ministry is conducting a Stakeholder Mapping Survey.
• Insights gather on survey – Organizational profiles; Offered solutions and innovations; Readiness to participate in the IES ecosystem
• Early adoption will help organizations remain future-ready, minimize retrofit costs, and support a unified, innovation-driven power sector.
• Significance – The IES will enable peer-to-peer energy trading; support aggregated demand-response programmes amid rising renewable integration; and facilitate smoother compliance with carbon offsetting.
• The challenges in power sector addressed by IES are –
  • There is no unique identifier for consumers, assets, or stakeholders.
  • Decision-making is hampered by the lack of access to harmonised, real-time data.
  • Those seeking to offer solutions in this space struggle to scale, as they depend on various proprietary digital platforms.
  • There is no interoperability between these digital systems, which prevents cross-regional data sharing and cross-discom transactions.

Reference

1. PIB | Ministry of Power Initiates to Build India Energy Stack (IES)

2. Indian Express | India Energy Stack