Opinion | From Capacity To Connectivity-The Case For India Energy Stack

India Energy Stack aims to unify power sector data, enabling real-time energy trading and management. Pilots in Mumbai, Gujarat, UP, and Delhi target national rollout by July 2026 India’s power sector is going through a transition. Currently, more than 52 percent of installed capacity – around 272 gigawatt (GW) – comes from non-fossil fuel sources, with solar alone contributing nearly 140 GW.

Distributed renewable energy (DRE) has also grown rapidly – 18 GW of the present 38 GW capacity was added in just the last 15 months.This rapid growth has been supported by a strong policy push, including USD 9 billion for rooftop solar under the ‘PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijili Yojana (PMSGMBY)’ and USD 4 billion for solar as part of the ‘Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM)’. But, this growth in DRE compounded by the rise in electric vehicles (EV), too, means that the grid is no longer a centralised, one-way supply system but rather a two-way energy network.

The power ministry has already launched a 12-month proof of concept, piloting IES with DISCOMs in Mumbai, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. The outcomes of this activity include an IES white paper, platform design guidelines, and a national rollout roadmap. Also, a capacity-building programme is planned to equip DISCOMs with the digital skills required for a complete implementation.The IES represents a move towards structured openness, where infrastructure, markets, and policy evolve together. If implemented with strong governance and interoperable standards, it could redefine how electricity is generated, traded, and valued in India’s clean energy future.

Click here to read the full article