India, May 13 -- India's power sector is entering one of its most complex transition phases as rising heat stress, rapid renewable energy expansion, cooling demand, decentralised renewable systems (DRE) and emerging industries such as data centres reshape electricity planning.

At a policy discussion on May 13, 2026 in Delhi on India's energy transition and grid preparedness, government officials, renewable energy developers, market experts and researchers said India was no longer dealing with a conventional supply challenge. Electricity demand patterns, generation sources and transmission needs are all changing at the same time, with heat emerging as a major stress factor.

Cooling devices such as fans, air conditioners and air coolers a...