The success of integrating artificial intelligence with renewable energy systems in India should ultimately be measured by reduced electricity costs for consumers, a senior government official said on Monday.
Speaking at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, JVN Subramanyam, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), said India’s rapid expansion in renewable energy capacity provides a strong foundation for leveraging AI to improve efficiency and optimise power systems.
India’s total installed power capacity currently stands at around 520 gigawatts, of which nearly 35 gigawatts comprise distributed renewable energy, Subramanyam said. He noted that the growing share of renewables in the energy mix requires smarter systems for forecasting, grid balancing and asset management.
Artificial intelligence, he said, can play a transformative role in optimising distributed renewable energy, improving predictive maintenance of infrastructure, and enabling better integration of variable power sources such as solar and wind. Over the next two to three years, effective convergence of AI and renewable energy technologies should translate into lower power costs, enhanced industrial competitiveness, and greater consumer participation in energy generation, he added.
Subramanyam also pointed to operational challenges within the distribution segment, highlighting the need for better maintenance and asset management as renewable penetration increases.
Speaking at the same event, Hemang Jani, Senior Advisor for India, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the World Bank, said AI should be viewed as an enabling infrastructure that supports broader development goals. While AI can improve efficiency and decision-making, he noted that governance reforms and fiscal discipline remain essential for long-term sectoral transformation.
The remarks reflect growing policy focus on combining digital technologies with clean energy systems to improve grid reliability, reduce losses and ensure that technological advancements deliver tangible economic benefits to consumers.
