NODE, an advanced AI-IoT energy management system, is revolutionizing this conversation by addressing both environmental concerns and users’ needs.

Traditional environmental messaging often struggles to engage customers because it focuses on the big picture—global carbon reduction or saving the planet—without tying it to personal impact. Many customers feel overwhelmed or disengaged when presented with these broad appeals, particularly when the connection to their daily lives isn’t clear. The reality is that most people are motivated by concrete incentives, like lower energy bills or easier-to-understand solutions to manage their energy consumption.

NODE bridges gap between a user and environmental warning by showing users how sustainable energy practices can lead to real, measurable benefits in their lives.

Take Time-of-Use (TOU) pricing as an example. Programs like TOU, which adjust energy costs based on the time of day, have tremendous potential to save customers money while reducing strain on the grid. Yet, these programs are often underutilized because customers don’t fully understand how they work. NODE’s AI-driven analytics simplify this complexity, providing real-time energy insights that empower users to optimize their energy consumption. Instead of relying on vague concepts, NODE shows users exactly when they can shift their energy use to save money, whether by scheduling appliance use during off-peak hours or charging energy storage systems when electricity rates are lower.

NODE doesn’t stop in providing insights; it creates a seamless experience for integrating renewable energy sources like solar and wind. By balancing energy production and consumption in real time, NODE makes it easier for users to adopt clean energy solutions without disrupting their routines. Industrial users, for instance, can utilize NODE to adjust machine schedules for peak efficiency, while residential users can effortlessly manage their home energy systems. This kind of precision ensures that sustainability efforts translate into practical, everyday actions.

Another area where NODE excels is ongoing engagement. Many sustainability efforts falter after the initial outreach, leaving customers without the support needed to maintain their habits. NODE solves this by offering continuous updates, personalized alerts, and intuitive dashboards. Customers are kept informed and empowered, building trust in the system while reinforcing sustainable practices. Instead of seeing energy management as a chore, NODE users become active participants in shaping a sustainable future.

The results speak for themselves. Customers using NODE report significant savings on their energy bills, alongside a greater sense of control over their energy usage. Industries adopting NODE have achieved higher utilization of renewable energy sources, reduced waste, and optimized operational costs. Most importantly, NODE has succeeded where traditional messaging often fails: creating a direct connection between sustainability and personal benefit.

In an era where customers demand both practicality and purpose, NODE is rewriting the rules of energy management. It makes sustainability simple, actionable, and rewarding. By aligning environmental goals with financial incentives and continuous engagement, NODE isn’t just helping users reduce their energy costs—it’s empowering them to drive meaningful change.

India’s smart meter market is poised for significant expansion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 33.3% to 34.57% from 2024 to 2032, according to recent market forecasts.

The market size is projected to grow from US$212–219.7 million in 2023 to an impressive US$2,823–3,179.5 million by 2032. This surge is driven by a combination of government initiatives, technological advancements, and growing demand for energy efficiency solutions.

Key Drivers of Smart Meter Market Growth in India

Several factors are expected to fuel the rapid adoption of smart meters in India over the next decade:

1. Government Initiatives:
   The Indian government’s commitment to improving energy efficiency, particularly through the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), is a major catalyst for the growth of the smart meter market. These initiatives aim to modernize power distribution infrastructure, reduce transmission and distribution losses, and empower consumers with better control over their energy consumption.
2. Energy Management:
   Smart meters enable utilities and consumers to better manage energy usage. With features like remote meter reading, real-time consumption monitoring, and automated fault detection, smart meters are revolutionizing energy management, improving billing accuracy, and reducing operational costs for utilities.
3. Renewable Energy Integration:
   As India continues to increase its adoption of renewable energy sources, smart meters are becoming an essential tool for integrating solar and wind power into the grid. These meters help manage the intermittent nature of renewable energy by providing real-time data that supports grid stability and more efficient power supply control.
4. Consumer Awareness:
   Growing awareness among consumers about the benefits of smart meters—such as more accurate billing, energy savings, and enhanced control over electricity use—is expected to drive demand. As more consumers recognize the advantages of real-time energy tracking and cost savings, the smart meter market is likely to see accelerated adoption.

Key Trends in the Indian Smart Meter Market

1. Technology:
   The most widely adopted technology in the Indian smart meter market is expected to be Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). AMI is an integrated system that uses communication networks, data management systems, and smart meters to automatically transmit usage data to utilities. This technology enables utilities to collect data remotely, manage grid operations efficiently, and improve service delivery to customers.
2. End-Users:
   The residential segment is expected to generate the highest revenue as smart meters are increasingly being adopted for home use. However, commercial and industrial sectors will also contribute significantly to the market as businesses seek to optimize energy consumption and reduce costs.
3. Regional Growth:
   North India is expected to dominate the smart meter market, driven by rapid urbanization, increased demand for energy, and government-led smart grid initiatives in states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana. Other regions, including South and West India, will also see significant growth, particularly as state-level governments implement smart metering projects.

Electa Energy’s SMDT: A Game-Changer for Accelerating Smart Meter Deployment

As India works to meet its ambitious smart meter targets, Electa Energy’s SMDT (Smart Meter Data Terminal) is positioning itself as a key enabler of faster, more cost-effective smart meter deployment.

Electa’s SMDT can accelerate the deployment process, delivering solutions at half the price and doubling the speed compared to traditional smart metering systems. This innovative product is designed to integrate seamlessly with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and can significantly reduce the time and cost involved in large-scale meter installations.

By offering a more affordable and efficient alternative, Electa Energy is making it easier for utilities to roll out smart meters on a national scale, supporting the government’s efforts to modernize India’s power infrastructure and ensure energy efficiency across the grid.

Conclusion

India’s smart meter market is on a rapid growth trajectory, supported by strong government initiatives, increasing consumer awareness, and technological advancements in AMI and energy management. As the market grows, Electa Energy’s SMDT is set to play a crucial role in accelerating the deployment of smart metering systems across the country—helping utilities meet the rising demand for energy efficiency while reducing costs and improving deployment timelines.

With these technological innovations and the increasing demand for smart meters, India is poised to transform its power sector into a smarter, more efficient, and sustainable system.

A $20 Billion Opportunity in Energy Management

India’s smart metering initiative is poised to revolutionise its energy sector by introducing advanced, real-time data collection and monitoring technologies. These smart meters will replace traditional analog meters, enabling utilities to remotely read energy consumption, prevent theft, and drastically reduce transmission and distribution losses, which have long been a challenge for the power sector. This transition to smart grids and smart metering infrastructure (AMI) is expected to create a $20 billion market for energy management solutions.

The government’s focus on prepaid smart meters and AMI will empower utilities with enhanced control over energy consumption, reduce billing errors, and improve the cash flow of distribution companies (discoms). As India moves toward a smarter and more sustainable energy future, companies like Electa Energy are in a prime position to leverage this multi-billion-dollar market opportunity.

Electa’s NODE: Empowering Smart Metering and Grid Modernisation

A evolving player in this landscape is Electa Energy with its flagship product, the NODE, a set of state-of-the-art data acquisition and control devices. The NODE is specifically designed to integrate seamlessly with smart metering systems, enabling utilities to efficiently collect, analyse, and manage energy data across large grids. As India accelerates its smart metering rollout, Electa’s NODE will play a pivotal role in ensuring the successful deployment and operation of these advanced technologies.

Key Features of Electa’s NODE:

1. Real-Time Data Collection and Communication: The NODE enables the continuous transmission of energy usage data from smart meters to centralised systems, allowing utilities to monitor consumption patterns in real time and make data-driven decisions for grid optimisation.
2. Seamless Integration with AMI: Electa’s NODE is fully compatible with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), making it easier for utilities to manage large-scale installations of smart meters, improve billing accuracy, and enhance overall system reliability.
3. Scalability for Growing Needs: As India works towards its target of 250 million smart meters, the NODE’s scalability ensures that it can be deployed across various regions, providing utilities with the flexibility they need to expand their smart grid networks without compromising on performance.
4. Enhanced Grid Management: The NODE helps utilities optimise grid operations by collecting data from multiple smart meters, monitoring distribution transformers, and enabling demand response mechanisms that balance load during peak hours. This contributes to grid stabilisation and reduces the risk of power outages.
5. Remote Monitoring and Control: With the NODE, utilities can remotely monitor energy usage, detect faults, and identify areas for improvement without the need for on-site inspections, making it a cost-effective solution for large-scale smart metering projects.
6. Cost-Effectiveness: The NODE offers significant cost savings for utilities by reducing the need for manual meter reading, onsite inspections, and costly fieldwork. Its remote monitoring capabilities help utilities save on operational expenses, and the streamlined integration with existing infrastructure reduces the upfront costs of deployment. The NODE’s efficiency in managing data and improving grid performance also contributes to lower long-term operational costs.

The Growing Role of Electa’s NODE in India’s Smart Metering Ecosystem

As India heads towards the installation of 250 million smart meters by 2027, Electa Energy’s NODE can play an increasingly critical role in the deployment of smart grid solutions. By providing real-time data transmission, facilitating advanced grid monitoring, and enabling effective demand management, the NODE is perfectly positioned to help utilities optimise energy distribution and improve system performance.

The NODE’s ability to integrate with various smart meter technologies makes it an indispensable tool for utilities looking to transition to smart grids and digital grid infrastructure. With the Indian government’s continued push for smart metering as part of the broader smart grid vision, Electa’s NODE can be a game-changer in improving energy management, reducing operational costs, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the power distribution network.

A Catalyst for Innovation in Energy Management

India’s move to install 250 million smart meters is expected to stimulate growth in the energy management technology sector, with companies like Electa Energy leading the way. The demand for smart grid solutions, data analytics, and advanced energy management systems (EMS) is poised to increase exponentially. Electa’s NODE, as part of the broader smart metering ecosystem, will be central to addressing the challenges faced by discoms, utilities, and energy consumers, helping them adopt smarter, more efficient energy practices.

The deployment of smart metering infrastructure and the integration of solutions like the NODE will also play a crucial role in supporting India’s renewable energy integration efforts. With solar and wind power becoming increasingly central to India’s energy mix, the ability to monitor and manage energy consumption in real-time will be essential in ensuring a stable and reliable grid.

Conclusion

India’s ambitious target to install 250 million smart meters by 2027 is set to drive a transformation in the country’s energy sector, creating a $20 billion market for energy management solutions. Electa Energy’s NODE is positioned at the heart of this transformation, offering advanced technologies that enable utilities to manage energy consumption, optimise grid operations, and enhance the overall efficiency of the power distribution network.

As India continues its push toward smarter, more sustainable energy systems, Electa’s NODE will be instrumental in achieving these goals, helping the country meet its energy needs while promoting sustainability, efficiency, and innovation in the smart metering and grid management space.

Government Initiatives Driving Smart Meter Adoption in India

The launch of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) by the Ministry of Power in 2022 has accelerated the transition towards smart metering in India. This ambitious initiative is designed to enhance the operational efficiency and financial viability of Distribution Companies (discoms). The RDSS comprises two main components:

• Part A: Provides financial support for prepaid smart metering, system metering, and distribution infrastructure upgrades.
• Part B: Focuses on training, capacity building, and support activities for discoms.

The RDSS has allocated a total of ₹1,349.86 billion for smart metering, with an additional ₹1,191.34 billion for loss reduction. The scheme targets the installation of 250 million prepaid smart meters by 2025, with a total investment of ₹1,500 billion. This initiative aims to modernise India’s energy infrastructure and improve billing accuracy, helping discoms reduce transmission and distribution losses while enhancing revenue collection.

Key Benefits of Smart Metering and Smart Grids

Smart meters and smart grids in India offer a wide range of benefits, including:

• Optimised Asset Utilisation: Maximising the use of existing power infrastructure.
• Reduced Transmission and Distribution Losses: Efficient monitoring and control of energy flow reduce wastage.
• Peak Load Management: Better management of energy consumption during peak hours.
• Improved Grid Visibility: Real-time data enables better decision-making and faster problem resolution.

By deploying advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) at the feeder and transformer levels, the government aims to automate energy measurement and reduce human error. The introduction of prepaid metering is expected to further streamline billing and improve collection efficiency, offering a sustainable solution to discoms’ financial challenges.

Electa’s NODE: Empowering Smart Metering and Grid Management

A key player in this transformation is Electa, a leading provider of innovative solutions for smart metering and smart grid management. One of its flagship products, the NODE, is a cutting-edge data acquisition and control unit designed to enhance the functionality and efficiency of smart grids across India. The Electa NODE integrates seamlessly with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Smart Metering Systems, providing utilities with real-time data and advanced analytics to optimise grid performance.

The NODE offers several key features that make it a valuable asset in India’s smart metering rollout:

• Real-time Data Acquisition: The NODE enables the continuous monitoring of energy consumption, helping utilities track usage patterns, detect faults, and optimise energy distribution.
• Seamless Integration with AMI: As part of Electa’s smart grid ecosystem, the NODE interfaces with smart meters, distribution transformers, and feeder meters to collect and process energy data.
• Scalability: Designed to meet the growing demands of India’s rapidly expanding smart metering infrastructure, the NODE can be scaled easily across multiple locations, ensuring flexibility for utilities.
• Remote Monitoring and Control: The NODE supports remote access and control, allowing grid operators to monitor and manage grid operations efficiently, reducing the need for manual intervention.

With the increasing rollout of smart grids and metering systems across India, the Electa NODE is helping utilities enhance grid reliability, reduce operational costs, and improve customer service.

Smart Metering Progress and Achievements

As of June 2024, the smart metering rollout in India has gained considerable momentum. The total number of sanctioned smart consumer meters has reached 222 million, along with 5.26 million distribution transformer (DT) meters and 0.18 million feeder meters. Notable milestones include:

• 117 million consumer smart meters (53% of the total sanctioned meters) have been awarded.
• 11.6 million smart meters have already been installed, marking a significant step toward the 2025 target.
• 4 million DT meters (77% of the sanctioned meters) and 130,295 feeder meters (71% of the sanctioned meters) have been awarded.

The pace of installations has increased dramatically in 2023-24, with 4.84 million smart meters installed—almost double the previous year’s installations. The Bihar power distribution system leads with 3.24 million installed smart meters, followed by Assam (2.15 million) and Uttar Pradesh (1.19 million). States like Madhya Pradesh and Haryana are also making significant progress in their smart meter deployments.

Smart Grid Pilots and Technological Advancements

In addition to the large-scale rollout of smart meters, several smart grid pilot projects are being implemented across India. These pilot projects are designed to test and validate various advanced technologies, including smart metering, AMI systems, peak load management, distribution transformer monitoring, outage management systems, and rooftop solar integration.

As of May 2024, the Chandigarh Electricity Division has installed 24,214 smart meters, while Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited has installed 145,343 smart meters to serve over 150,000 consumers. These pilot projects are part of the government’s larger plan to enhance grid efficiency and reliability.

These projects also integrate supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, which further improve monitoring and control of the distribution network. By leveraging smart metering technology alongside AMI, these pilot projects are paving the way for a more modern, digital power grid in India.

The Future of Smart Metering in India

The rapid adoption of smart metering technologies and the expansion of smart grids in India are critical to achieving a more efficient and sustainable energy future. With the government’s target of replacing all 250 million meters with smart meters by 2025, the market for smart metering solutions in India is poised for exponential growth. Public-private partnerships, technological advancements, and robust policy support will continue to drive the momentum of this transformation.

For the smart metering industry and smart grid solutions, India represents a major opportunity for innovation, investment, and growth, as the country moves towards a smarter, more connected energy future.

The Union Cabinet has approved these changes to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, allowing the extraction of lithium and other crucial minerals like beryllium, titanium, niobium, tantalum, and zirconium.

The availability of these minerals is essential for the production of clean energy technologies such as mobile phones, electric vehicles, solar panels, semiconductors, and wind turbines.

An official familiar with the matter informed The Hindu Businessline that the government plans to auction mineral blocks containing these critical resources. Once the amendments receive parliamentary clearance, companies will be able to obtain a single exploration license through these auctions, promoting private investment in the sector.

source: The Wire

LiNi0.5Mn0.43Ti0.02Mg0.02Nb0.01Mo0.02O2 cathode shows potential cost advantage with relatively high specific energy and significantly improved overall performance (~95% capacity retained after 1,000 cycles in pouch-type cells, 2.8–4.3 V vs graphite, at 1 C, 1.5 mA cm−2). Combining X-ray techniques and electron microscopy, we uncover the origins of the superior stability.

source: nature energy

Tesla Inc has put on hold plans to sell electric cars in India, abandoned a search for showroom space, and reassigned some of its domestic team after failing to secure lower import taxes, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The decision caps more than a year of deadlocked talks with government representatives as Tesla sought to first test demand by selling electric vehicles (EVs) imported from production hubs in the United States and China, at lower tariffs.

But the Indian government is pushing Tesla to commit to manufacturing locally before it will lower tariffs, which can run as high as 100% on imported vehicles.

Tesla had set itself a deadline of Feb. 1, the day India unveils its budget and announces tax changes, to see if its lobbying brought a result, the sources with knowledge of the company’s plan told Reuters. When Central Government did not offer a concession, Tesla put on hold the plans to import cars into India.

For months, Tesla had scouted for real estate options to open showrooms and service centers in the key Indian cities of New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru but that plan is also now on hold, two of the sources said.

The new startup is looking to hire over 1,000 workers that will support the production of GM’s future electric vehicles. In December 2019, GM announced its own battery factory in partnership with LG Chem in Lordstown, Ohio.

The project, called Ultium Cells LLC, will produce “more than 30 gigawatt hours with flexibility for expansion” — making it a “gigafactory,” which is a term popularized by Tesla and first used for Tesla’s Gigafactory Nevada.

GM is kicking off its hiring effort and making construction progress at its Ultium battery factory under its new Ultium Cells LLC joint-venture with LG Chem.

GM broke ground in May and started deploying the first steel structures in July.

Now the automaker is sharing new images of the progress made at the plant over the last few months (pictures are from October 23):

The website is only showing 14 positions at the time of writing, but it is expected to increase as they make progress.

Thomas Gallagher, plant director of Ultium Cells LLC Lordstown factory, commented:

“We are excited to share our vision of an all-electric future as we begin adding members to our highly-technical battery cell manufacturing team. This facility will lead us into a new era of manufacturing and sustainability as we push toward a zero-emissions future. We are very grateful for the Lordstown community’s continued support.”

GM closed its vehicle factory in Lordstown, but the automaker sold it to Lordstown Motors who is reopening the plant to produce electric pickup trucks.

Between Lordstown Motors and now Ultium Cells LLC, it looks like the region could actually end up in a better situation despite GM closing the factory.

The deal between GM and LG Chem at the factory is reminiscent of the deal Tesla made with Panasonic to build Gigafactory Nevada.

Courtesy @ Electrek

“Tesla motor’s most awaited Indian entry is on track” revealed CEO Elon Musk in twitter. The American electric car manufacturer will start the process to bring Tesla cars to India in January 2021, if all goes according to plan.

After October 2nd’s “next year for sure”, It’s second time Elon tweeted about inidan launch. Tesla had plans to launch its production plant in Bangalore (India’s silicon valley) and as per the news, Karnataka govt is working on it’s bid to have Tesla in their ground.

While the india has lot of startups and small EV manufacturers, A global giant like Tesla can accelerate the mass adoption of EV in india. It was only because of lack of charging infrastructure, India couldn’t switch to green energy transportation. While Indian middle class is dependent on public sector transport, two wheelers and budget cars, Tesla might come up with another affordable Electric car powered with LiFePO4 chemistry. The earlier announcement of Chinese manufacturer CATL and their famous 1Million Mile LiFePO4 cells, are going to energize indian auto Industry.

While tesla is busy in building their next GigaFactory in Germany, Tesla fans in India eagerly waiting for next announcement.

Silicon Valley-based company is using its expertise in composites manufacturing and 3D printing to produce the “world’s first” 3D-printed unibody electric bike. (It’s not really the first, but more on that in a bit.)

For all ebikes can do to make transportation easier and more pleasant, there’s one complaint that continues to haunt them: weight. Slowly but surely though, we’re beginning to see more ebikes approach the weights of traditional bikes using clever designs and lighter components.

An upcoming bike called the Superstrata, launching for pre-order on Indiegogo today in both regular and electrified versions, claims to push the boundaries of lightweight ebikes even further by using a 3D-printed, unibody carbon fiber manufacturing process.

Coming in at around 24.2 pounds for the electric model, dubbed the Superstrata Ion, the bike is not only lighter than practically every other ebike out there, but it also claims to be far more durable than existing carbon fiber, steel, and aluminum models. And I say ‘around’ 24.2 lb because the Superstrata has another trick up its sleeve: the 3D-printing process means each model is custom-fitted to the individual rider, allowing up to 500,000 variations of the unibody frame.