Dwijadas Basak, CEO, Tata Power-DDL, and Sarala Yadav, Assistant Director- Finance & Compliance, Ashoka University, on behalf of ACPET, sign the MoU.
New Delhi, June 26, 2026: The Ashoka Centre for a People-centric Energy Transition (ACPET) and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (Tata Power-DDL) have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance research, innovation, and capacity building in the domain of the energy and power sector, and to create innovative solutions to support India’s overall energy transition.
The partnership brings together ACPET’s expertise in research, data analysis, energy policy, and sustainable transitions with Tata Power-DDL’s operational experience as one of India’s leading power distribution entities. Through this collaboration, the two organisations will jointly undertake research, technology demonstrations, policy engagement, and knowledge-sharing initiatives to build a more sustainable, secure, and equitable energy future.
The collaboration comes at a critical time for India’s power sector, which is witnessing rapid technological and regulatory transformation. The expansion of renewable energy, rising electricity demand, rising consumer expectations, and the need for resilient, low-carbon infrastructure require closer collaboration between academia and industry. Emerging areas such as smart grids, electric vehicles, distributed energy resources, energy storage, demand-side management, and consumer engagement require new knowledge, practical insights, and opportunities for testing and demonstrating innovative approaches. This MoU creates a structured platform through which ACPET and Tata Power-DDL can jointly explore these opportunities and contribute to advancing industry knowledge and best practices.
As part of the collaboration, ACPET and Tata Power-DDL will jointly pursue research, innovation, customer engagement and capacity-building initiatives aimed at advancing India’s energy transition. The partnership will focus on undertaking research projects, developing policy briefs and technical reports, and generating evidence-based insights to inform industry practices and policymaking.
The collaboration will focus on joint research and learning in emerging areas such as smart grids, electric vehicles, distributed energy resources, energy storage, demand-side management, and design innovative regulatory and business models. The partners will also undertake technology demonstrations, organise expert dialogues and training programmes, facilitate knowledge exchange, and explore the establishment of a Centre of Excellence to drive innovation and strengthen institutional capabilities in the power sector.
Commenting on the partnership, Dr. Praveer Sinha, CEO & Managing Director, Tata Power, said, “India’s energy transition presents a unique opportunity to bring together research, policy, innovation and real-world implementation. As the sector evolves over the coming years, meaningful progress will depend on stronger collaboration between academia, industry, policymakers, startups and innovators. This partnership between Tata Power’s distribution arm in Delhi and ACPET creates a unique platform that combines academic rigour, policy expertise and industry experience to address emerging energy challenges and develop practical, scalable solutions for the power sector.”
Vaibhav Chowdhary, Director, ACPET, said, “Technology alone will not deliver India’s energy transition – the human capacity to deploy, operate, and innovate around that technology is equally decisive. This partnership between Tata Power-DDL and ACPET brings together operational depth and research rigour to address both. Our shared goal is to co-create an energy system that is empirically grounded, practically tested, and designed to be sustainable, secure, and equitable for India and the Global South.”
Rakesh Kacker, Senior Advisor, ACPET, said, “India’s electricity sector is undergoing a profound transformation. We want renewable energy to scale rapidly, but we also recognise that transitions of this magnitude are shaped by historical realities, market dynamics, and technological constraints. This is where a collaboration between ACPET and Tata Power can be especially powerful. ACPET brings academic rigour and robust analytical tools, while Tata Power contributes invaluable insights from implementation on the ground. Together, we can bridge evidence and practice to shape more effective pathways for India’s energy transition.”
Dwijadas Basak, CEO, Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (Tata Power-DDL), said, “The power sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation driven by rapid technological advancements, growing renewable energy integration, distributed energy resources, and evolving consumer expectations. In this dynamic environment, research-led insights and evidence-based policy support are critical to shaping the future of the sector. Our partnership with ACPET will bring together industry experience and academic excellence to develop innovative solutions, strengthen policy and regulatory frameworks, and contribute meaningfully to India’s energy transition journey.”
As part of the collaboration, Tata Power-DDL will support dedicated research personnel and provide infrastructure access, while both institutions will jointly design and implement research projects, consumer awareness programmes, and dissemination of research outcomes. A Joint Steering Committee comprising representatives from both organisations will provide strategic oversight and guide future activities.
The collaboration reflects a shared commitment by ACPET and Tata Power-DDL to address the complex technological, regulatory, and societal dimensions of the energy transition. By fostering innovation and translating research into practice, the partnership aims to contribute to India’s vision of a sustainable and secure energy future.
About Tata Power-DDL:
Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited is a joint venture between Tata Power and the Government of NCT of Delhi. Tata Power-DDL distributes electricity in North Delhi and serves a populace of around 9 million. The utility has been a frontrunner in implementing power distribution reforms and is acknowledged for its consumer-friendly practices. Since privatization, the Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses in Tata Power-DDL’s area have shown a record decline. Today, AT&C losses stand at 5.42%, representing an unprecedented reduction from the opening loss level of 53% in July 2002. Tata Power-DDL provides various facilities and services to its consumers for their ease and convenience such as 24X7 Integrated Helpline, Mobile Application for both iOS and Android users, bilingual website, Multiple Payment Avenue, End to End online services for New Connection, etc. Tata Power-DDL has been awarded the highest rating of ‘A+’ by the Ministry of Power under the Consumer Service Rating of Discoms (CSRD) framework for the financial year 2024–25.
In addition to this achievement, the utility has been ranked nationally in the Distribution Utility Ranking (DUR) across both urban and overall categories, reinforcing its position as a trusted and customer-focused utility.
About ACPET:
The Ashoka Centre for a People-centric Energy Transition (ACPET) has been established to support energy transition towards a net-zero economy and to address a critical knowledge gap in this pathway for India and the Global South. ACPET attempts to build frameworks, pedagogies, and solutions that are context-responsive, people-centric, and advance the three pillars (economic, social, and governance) of sustainable growth.
ACPET also co-designs rigorous frameworks and interventions in collaboration with industry leaders, government institutions, and community champions. The objective is to test the interventions on the ground and critically evaluate their impact, thereby offering practical solutions that are sensitive, scalable, and adaptable. ACPET believes in collaborative working, knowledge-sharing, and capacity-building at various levels. Through periodic reports, op-eds, policy briefs, and publications, ACPET facilitates an informed discourse on energy transition in India and beyond.
For further information about ACPET, please visit: acpet.ashoka.edu.in.
About Ashoka University, Delhi NCR:
Ashoka University is a premier interdisciplinary higher education and research-focused institution, offering world-class opportunities in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Established in 2014 by leaders, thinkers, academics, and philanthropists from diverse fields, it operates on a unique model of collective philanthropy, blending the finest governance practices with cutting-edge pedagogy and an internationally reputed faculty.
Today, the University has a community of 3000+ students, and operates 20+ dedicated Centres of Excellence, producing research and interventions for impact in areas such as public health and disease control, energy transition, digitisation of society, and women empowerment, among other areas of public policy. The University stands for principles of inclusivity and diversity, having more than 57% women, 4% international scholars, 100+ specially abled students, and over 47% students on scholarships. It is a non-profit university established under the Haryana Private Universities Act (2006).
