Global Push for AI-Driven Microgrids and Grid Expansion Holds Lessons for India’s Energy Future
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Institution: Ministry of Power
At the 15th APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting in Busan, economies across the Asia-Pacific region placed energy resilience at the center of their agenda. With demand surging due to electrification and the rapid expansion of AI-enabled data centers, ministers endorsed large-scale grid expansion, new energy “highways,” and deployment of AI-powered microgrids for real-time energy management.
Although India is not an APEC member, the themes echo domestic priorities. India too faces the challenge of balancing rising power demand, renewable energy integration, and the need for reliable rural and urban supply. Initiatives such as the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), National Smart Grid Mission, and India’s push for green hydrogen all hinge on robust grid modernization. AI-enabled microgrids, showcased in the APEC deliberations, offer a relevant model for India’s remote and rural electrification, where distributed generation must be paired with smart management to ensure resilience.
The APEC agenda underlines how regional cooperation and technological adoption are shaping energy policy. For India, the opportunity lies in adapting these lessons into its national grid planning and leveraging AI-enabled innovation to accelerate the transition to reliable, clean, and equitable power.
Relevant question for policy stakeholders: How can India integrate AI-enabled microgrids into its national grid strategy to enhance rural electrification and renewable energy stability?
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https://www.apec.org/press/news-releases/2025/apec-energy-ministers-advance-grid-expansion-and-ai-driven-innovation