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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