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 experts at a national conference focused on energy and technology, who pointed to the country's surplus electricity capacity and ongoing reforms in power distribution as key enablers.
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.
A Platform for Innovation and Collaboration
The conference served as a 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 innovative solutions to modernize the sector.
"Today we are bringing together solution providers and distribution companies on a single platform where they can interact and develop new solutions and ideas," Mishra told ANI. He revealed that several innovative concepts were being presented, with the best solutions slated to be awarded by the Minister of Power. The government expects this collaborative effort to be a transformative step for the power sector.
Reforms and the Role of AI in Smart Metering
Highlighting the ongoing transformation, Srivastava detailed the reforms driven by the Ministry of Power under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), where smart metering forms a core pillar. However, he stressed that the full benefits of this massive smart meter rollout 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 asserted. He explained that AI and ML-based tools are crucial for enhancing anti-theft measures, improving load forecasting, and achieving system rationalisation. The conference aimed to demonstrate how these technologies can improve consumer services, assist regulators, and help discoms operate more efficiently.
India's energy sector has shown remarkable strengthening in recent years, successfully balancing rising demand with sustainability goals. Speakers referenced International Energy Agency projections indicating that emerging and developing economies will account for about 85% of global electricity demand growth over the next three years, with India playing a central role in this surge.
Supporting this optimistic outlook, official data reveals a robust infrastructure. As of June 2025, India's total installed power capacity stood at 476 GW. Furthermore, the country has made dramatic strides in reliability, with power shortages plummeting from 4.2% in 2013-14 to a mere 0.1% in 2024-25. This combination of scale, stability, and technological adoption positions India uniquely to turn its power surplus into a strategic global commodity.
