New delhi: SmartWatt Consulting and Integrated Energy Services LLC, an Abu Dhabi-headquartered energy technology company, and BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd., one of India's prominent electricity distribution companies serving the National Capital Territory of Delhi, have formalised a strategic engagement under the Muruna Initiative. The signing ceremony was hosted at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in New Delhi in the presence of Dr. Abdulnasser Jamal Alshaali, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of India.
According to Emirates News Agency, this engagement brings UAE-developed innovation into India's power sector. Through the Muruna Initiative, SmartWatt is combining Artificial Intelligence, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) to assist utilities in building smarter, more flexible, and sustainable electricity networks. Collaborating with BSES, the parties have completed technical assessments, identified priority substations and network constraints, and are moving forward with implementation planning for demand-side flexibility across the Delhi network.
The engagement aims to establish a scalable model for demand-side flexibility that can be progressively replicated across India, aiding utilities in accelerating the transition towards resilient and intelligent electricity networks. The initiative also plans to develop an AI-enabled Command and Control Centre to manage demand-side flexibility resources, providing utilities with real-time visibility and optimisation capabilities.
Dr. Sameh El Khatib, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SmartWatt, stated that the engagement is a significant step in bringing Emirati innovation to India. He highlighted the Muruna Initiative's goal to support not just a single utility but to create a scalable framework that can enhance grid flexibility across India and beyond.
Abhishek Ranjan, Chief Executive Officer of BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd., mentioned that the collaboration would help the utility meet increasing demand while advancing its sustainability objectives. He emphasized the potential of this engagement to establish a benchmark for demand-side flexibility in India, showcasing how digital technologies and energy resources can unlock greater value for consumers and the electricity network.
The collaboration is part of a growing number of partnerships strengthening the commercial relationship between the United Arab Emirates and India. Bilateral trade between the two nations has exceeded US$100 billion, with goals to reach US$200 billion by 2032. Company-to-company engagements in sectors such as clean energy and advanced technology are shaping this ambition.
The Muruna Initiative exemplifies this evolution, showing how UAE innovation and Indian utilities can collaborate to deploy next-generation energy solutions across the country. The initiative is also advancing a programme with the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEBL) under a World Bank-supported programme, illustrating the adaptability of the Muruna platform across different utility environments and supporting the modernisation of India's electricity sector.