ENCIS Survey predicts 65% rise in Power Sector AI by 2030
India's power industry is preparing for a major digital shift, according to the ENCIS Survey, which projects that Power Sector AI adoption in power plants and generation assets will increase by 65% by 2030. The findings suggest AI is moving from pilot projects to core operations as utilities look to improve efficiency, reliability and plant performance.
The survey, conducted by The Energy & Climate Initiatives Society (ENCIS), gathered responses from 250 professionals across utilities and technology companies in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru and Chennai. It found that nearly 35% of Indian power generation companies already use AI in their operations, while almost seven in ten respondents believe power generation offers the biggest opportunity for AI-driven efficiency gains over the next five years.
Power Sector AI and India AI 2030 reshape generation plans
The ENCIS Survey comes as India's digital infrastructure continues to expand. Data centre capacity is projected to grow from 1.5 GW in 2025 to 7 GW by 2030, while electricity demand from data centres alone is expected to reach 13.56 GW by FY2031-32.
According to the survey, 61% of respondents identified operational efficiency as the main reason for investing in AI, while 22% linked AI adoption to accelerating the clean energy transition. Only 9% viewed regulatory compliance as the primary driver, indicating that AI is increasingly seen as a business priority rather than a compliance requirement.
Predictive Maintenance leads Power Plant AI priorities
The survey highlights Predictive Maintenance as the most promising application of Power Plant AI. Around 54% of respondents believe predictive asset management can detect faults early, reduce outages and extend the life of critical equipment. Grid management and renewable integration also emerged as important use cases, although respondents expect the biggest gains from improving core plant operations.
The findings also point to key challenges slowing adoption. More than 37% cited a shortage of skilled professionals, while 23% highlighted difficulties in integrating AI with ageing infrastructure. Another 18% identified data privacy and security concerns as major barriers.
ENCIS power sector AI study outlines next steps
The ENCIS power sector AI study recommends focusing on value-driven AI projects, building trusted and interoperable data systems, designing AI specifically for critical infrastructure, scaling successful pilots and developing talent with expertise in both engineering and AI.
The survey findings will also shape discussions at Bharat Electricity, POWERGEN India and Indian Utility Week, scheduled from 1–3 September 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, where industry leaders are expected to discuss AI, digital transformation and the future of India's energy sector.
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