SYLLABUS

GS-3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Context: Recently, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) has launched a Global Mission on AI for Energy to accelerate the adoption of Artificial Intelligence in clean energy systems across its 120+ member countries.

More on the News

• The announcement was made at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

• The session was titled “Global Mission on AI for Energy – Scaling through Citizen-Centric India Energy Stack.”

• The mission aims to unite governments, industry, financial institutions, and multilateral organisations to scale AI-enabled clean energy systems.

• A report titled Smarter and Citizen-Centric Power for Shared Prosperity: Unleashing the Potential of Digitally and AI-Enabled Power Systems was released.

• The report emphasizes that AI and clean energy reinforce each other, affordable clean power drives digital growth, while AI enables efficient renewable deployment.

Core Objectives of the Mission

• Smart Grid Transformation: Building intelligent, bidirectional grids capable of integrating distributed renewable energy.

• Digital Leapfrogging: Helping developing countries bypass legacy infrastructure using AI-enabled energy systems.

• Citizen-Centric Energy Systems: Placing consumers at the centre via interoperable digital platforms.

• System-Level Transformation: Aligning policy frameworks, data infrastructure, technical capacity, and finance beyond pilot projects.

• Decentralised Energy Scaling: Supporting distributed solar and prosumer ecosystems using AI-driven forecasting and optimisation.

Key Themes Highlighted at the Summit

• AI as the Engine of Energy Transition: AI can enhance load forecasting, predictive maintenance, grid optimisation, and renewable integration.

• Enables real-time management of distributed energy assets, especially in developing economies with uneven electricity access.
• Digitisation and AI are increasingly seen as essential enablers of scalable and equitable energy transition.

• From Energy Transition to Grid Transition: Rapid expansion of distributed renewables is shifting focus from capacity addition to grid integration.

• Requires stronger transmission infrastructure, modernised distribution networks, and real-time monitoring with digital optimisation.

• India as a Digital Energy Model: India’s digital public infrastructure in the power sector was showcased as a scalable template.

• Interoperable platforms linking consumers, utilities, vendors, and financiers enable inclusive service delivery.
• States such as Delhi, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh are advancing smart metering and digital grid systems.

• India’s Solar Journey: India’s solar capacity has grown from less than 3 GW in 2014 to over 141 GW, making it one of the fastest-growing solar markets globally.

• Major initiatives include PM-KUSUM, which promotes solar pumps enabling farmers to become energy producers, and PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, which supports rooftop solar for 1 crore households to create a nationwide prosumer ecosystem.
• These programmes are democratising solar energy and strengthening distributed energy systems.

India’s Clean Energy Momentum

• India aims to achieve 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, aligned with COP-26 commitments.

• The country achieved 50% installed capacity from non-fossil sources in June 2025, five years ahead of its NDC target.

• Non-fossil capacity reached 262.74 GW (51.5%) in November 2025, out of a total installed capacity of 509.64 GW.

• Renewable additions in 2025 have been record-breaking, with 44.51 GW added (till November), nearly double the previous year.

• Total renewable installed capacity reached 253.96 GW in November 2025, marking strong year-on-year growth.

• Solar as the Main Growth Driver:

• Solar capacity crossed 100 GW in January 2025 and reached 132.85 GW by November 2025.
• Solar additions (34.98 GW) significantly exceeded the previous year’s pace.
• Wind capacity also expanded, reaching 53.99 GW by November 2025.

• Global Standing: According to IRENA RE Statistics 2025, India ranks:

• 3rd in solar capacity globally
• 4th in wind capacity
• 4th in total renewable capacity

Innovations Showcased by ISA

• One Solar App (BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd.): A unified platform for rooftop solar registration, net-metering transparency, and performance tracking.

• Digital Twin Solutions for DISCOMs: Virtual replicas of electricity networks enabling simulation, predictive maintenance, and renewable integration planning.

• GIS-Based Distribution Modernisation: Geospatial mapping initiatives (e.g., Andhra Pradesh) for asset optimisation, outage management, and infrastructure planning.

Significance of the Global Mission

• The mission places AI at the core of decentralised clean energy expansion.

• The initiative supports developing countries in digitally leapfrogging legacy energy systems.

• The mission aligns climate goals with economic development objectives.

• The framework ensures that AI-enabled clean energy systems remain inclusive and citizen-centric.

• The initiative reinforces India’s leadership in digital public infrastructure and renewable energy transformation.

Source:
Down To Earth
PIB
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