India's rapidly expanding data centre and artificial intelligence ecosystem is creating a unique opportunity for the nation to emerge as a global leader in power trade. This vision was articulated by industry leaders and government officials at a national conference focused on energy and technology solutions.
Power as the New Strategic Currency
Speaking at the National Conference on AI and Machine Learning based solutions in the power sector, Jitendra Srivastava, Chairman and Managing Director of REC Limited, outlined a transformative future. He stated that the explosive growth of AI and data centres is ushering in an era where electricity itself becomes a strategic asset and a form of currency.
"With the exploding growth of artificial intelligence, with the exploding growth of data centres, with the sheer amount of power required to function these places...We are going to see an era when power will be the currency," Srivastava said, according to ANI reports. He emphasized India's advantageous position, citing its huge potential and already surplus power status. "We are poised to become world leaders. We are in a position where we can show the world that power is a tradable commodity and we can be global leaders in this," he added.
Platform for Innovation and Sector Reform
The conference served as a collaborative bridge between technology solution providers and power distribution companies (discoms). Shashank Mishra, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Power, explained that the initiative was designed to create a common platform for developing new, innovative solutions. The best concepts presented are to be awarded by the Minister of Power, with the government expecting this to be a transformative step for the sector.
Highlighting the ongoing transformation, Srivastava pointed to the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) driven by the Ministry of Power. A core pillar of this programme is the nationwide rollout of smart metering. However, he stressed that the full benefits of this infrastructure can only be unlocked with advanced analytics. "To understand the advantages of smart metering, it is essential to leverage the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning," he noted. These AI-based tools can significantly enhance anti-theft measures, improve load forecasting, and enable system rationalisation.
India's Strengthened Energy Position
The push for AI integration comes at a time when India's energy sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth. The country has successfully balanced rising demand with sustainability goals. Conference speakers referenced International Energy Agency projections indicating that emerging and developing economies will account for 85% of global electricity demand growth over the next three years, with India playing a central role.
Official data underscores this progress. As of June 2025, India's total installed power capacity stands at a robust 476 GW. Furthermore, the chronic issue of power shortages has seen a dramatic decline, falling from 4.2% in the 2013-14 period to a mere 0.1% in 2024-25. This combination of substantial capacity and operational efficiency creates the ideal foundation for the country to not only meet its own burgeoning demand from data centres and AI but also to position electricity as a key exportable commodity on the world stage.
The consensus from the conference is clear: the intersection of India's surplus power capacity, sweeping distribution reforms, and the catalytic demand from artificial intelligence and data centres is setting the scene for the country to redefine the global energy trade landscape.
