Collaborative Initiative to Strengthen Power Sector Regulation
The CoE is a joint initiative by IIT Delhi, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), and Grid Controller of India Ltd. (Grid India). It aims to serve as a national hub for regulatory research, capacity building, advisory support, and knowledge dissemination, combining academic expertise with regulatory and operational insights.
By integrating policy, system operations, and research under one roof, the Centre will address challenges posed by rising electricity demand, large-scale renewable integration, digitalization, and expanding power markets.
Supporting Evidence-Based Decision-Making
The CoE will work closely with CERC and Grid India to identify sectoral challenges, enhance institutional capabilities, and promote knowledge management. It will undertake advanced research, leverage global academic networks, and provide advisory support to regulators and other stakeholders.
Shri Manohar Lal highlighted that robust regulation, backed by data and research, is essential as India transitions towards clean energy, competitive markets, and consumer-centric reforms.
Multidisciplinary Research and Capacity Building
The Centre will focus on a broad spectrum of research areas including market design, grid operations, decarbonisation pathways, energy transition, digitalisation, and emerging technologies like energy storage, demand response, and green hydrogen. Structured training programmes will enhance the capabilities of regulatory professionals and power sector personnel across India.
Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi, noted that the partnership aims to generate actionable insights for a sustainable, affordable, and future-ready electricity sector.
Enhancing Policy and Operational Alignment
Shri Jishnu Barua, Chairman of CERC, emphasized that effective regulation requires data-driven analysis and long-term thinking. Shri S C Saxena, CMD of Grid India, added that operational insights will inform regulatory research, ensuring practical, implementable market designs. Power Secretary Shri Pankaj Agarwal lauded the initiative as a critical step in advancing India’s power sector.
The CoE’s work will directly support policy and regulatory decision-making, addressing the sector’s trilemma of affordability, sustainability, and efficiency while informing reforms as solar and wind energy become mainstream.
Impact on India’s Energy Landscape
The CoE at IIT Delhi represents a unique institutional model, combining regulatory leadership, operational expertise, and academic excellence. By strengthening analytical capabilities and promoting evidence-based policymaking, the Centre is expected to play a pivotal role in building adaptive, future-ready regulatory frameworks for India’s power sector.
