India took a major step toward modernising its power infrastructure on February 17, 2026, when the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) launched the India Grids of the Future Accelerator at Mumbai Climate Week 2026. The initiative commits up to $25 million nearly Rs 226.9 crore by 2028 to upgrade power distribution networks, integrate renewable energy and storage, and prepare the country’s grids for rising electricity demand.
What Is the Accelerator?
The platform aims to unlock $100 million in total investment by 2030 through a blended finance approach, combining public, private and philanthropic funding. It aligns with the Government of India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and targets support for at least 15 utilities, with a projected impact on nearly 300 million people.
The initiative is backed by the All India DISCOM Association and the International Solar Alliance. At launch, GEAPP signed memoranda of understanding with distribution companies in Delhi and Rajasthan, designating them as the first cohort of “champion utilities” under the programme.
Who Is Behind It?
Rajiv J Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation, formally announced the accelerator at the event. “India has become a global leader in delivering clean, affordable energy,” Shah said. “The Grids of the Future Accelerator will build on that progress and transform the grid into a digitised, flexible system capable of meeting 21st-century demand.”
Woochong Um, Chief Executive Officer of GEAPP, said the initiative marked a shift “from pilots to platforms” and would build the digital, financial and institutional capacity required to integrate renewables and storage at scale.
Abha Shukla, Additional Chief Secretary for Energy at the Government of Maharashtra, said reliable and future-ready power systems are central to sustaining economic growth and energy security. “Delivery-focused partnerships like the India Grids of the Future Accelerator translate national priorities into on-ground outcomes,” Shukla said.
How Will It Work?
The accelerator will deploy a “D4” framework across participating utilities โ digitalisation through tools such as digital twins and advanced analytics; integration of distributed energy resources; democratisation of electricity by enabling consumer participation; and development of a broader innovation ecosystem.
The event also saw the launch of ENTICE 3.0, the latest edition of GEAPP’s Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge, with a focus on energy storage including non-lithium solutions and rapid grid digitalisation.
Where Did It Launch?
The accelerator was unveiled at Mumbai Climate Week 2026, running from February 17 to 19 at the Jio World Convention Centre. The inaugural event, organised by NGO Project Mumbai in partnership with the Government of Maharashtra, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, brings together more than 400 speakers and over 100 institutions from across India and beyond.
The three-day platform focuses on climate action across urban systems, energy, food and infrastructure, positioning Mumbai as a hub for climate leadership across the Global South.
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