Union Power Minister Manohar Lal has highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in creating a smarter power grid capable of forecasting demand, improving grid management and supporting the integration of growing renewable energy capacity.
New Delhi, October 14 — Union Power Minister Manohar Lal has underscored the government’s push for an AI-enabled power grid that can improve forecasting and management across electricity generation, transmission and distribution.
In a video message at the brainstorming conclave on “Making the Indian Power Sector AI Enabled”, organised by the Central Electricity Authority and FICCI, the minister said artificial intelligence would play an important role as India expands its power generation capacity and integrates more renewable energy into the grid.
India currently has an installed power generation capacity of around 555 GW. In FY 2026-27, the government expects about 70 GW of additional capacity to be added, with a longer-term goal of scaling additions further.
Manohar Lal said the objective is not just to add generation capacity, but also to use AI to improve grid management and demand forecasting. This will become increasingly important as the electricity mix expands beyond thermal power to include a larger share of non-fossil fuel-based capacity.
He said an AI-enabled grid should be capable of understanding electricity demand and managing the integration of power from multiple sources into the network more efficiently.
Union Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik also called for wider adoption of AI across the power sector to improve service delivery and electricity management.
Naik said AI could help improve efficiency in generation, transmission and distribution, while also supporting better planning as more renewable energy is added to the grid.
He added that policy and technology would need to evolve together to ensure reliable electricity supply to households as India’s energy system becomes more complex.
The government’s emphasis on AI reflects a broader effort to modernise India’s electricity infrastructure through smarter forecasting, automated decision-making and better integration of renewable power.
