India Eyes Regional Grid Expansion to Energize One World Vision

India bolsters its regional energy strategy with potential power links to Sri Lanka, advancing the 'One Sun, One Grid, One World' initiative. Aiming to enhance cross-border electricity trade, India plans significant investments in infrastructure and innovation to meet growing demand and sustainably balance renewable and conventional energy sources.

India is ramping up its regional energy strategy by investigating the possibility of establishing power links with Sri Lanka as part of its broader efforts to advance the 'One Sun, One Grid, One World' initiative. Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar revealed these plans during the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 in New Delhi, underscoring the potential of regional interconnections to facilitate clean energy flow and enhance global grid vision.

Highlighting India's burgeoning role in regional cooperation, Khattar noted that India already distributes electricity to neighboring Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, with plans to extend support to Sri Lanka in the near future. He emphasized India's competitive advantage in power generation, citing the lower costs compared to global figures, particularly European production costs.

The minister stressed the importance of robust transmission infrastructure for seamless electricity exchange, tracing energy evolution from coal to modern renewables like solar. With economic progress tethered to a reliable power supply, India has significantly expanded its transmission capabilities, preparing to meet increasing demands and cater to emerging drivers like data centers and electric vehicles. Despite the rapid growth of renewable capacity, Khattar acknowledged the need for conventional energy sources for system reliability in the short term while pushing for innovation in power storage solutions.

(With inputs from agencies.)