Schneider Electric and Networks for Humanity (NFH) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore applications for India’s emerging Digital Energy Grid (DEG). The partnership will combine Schneider Electric’s energy technology capabilities with NFH’s experience in open and interoperable digital networks.

The organisations plan to identify, design and evaluate pilot applications that can connect energy assets, end users and other participants across the energy ecosystem. The DEG is intended to create an open digital layer linking consumers, assets and market players through interoperable systems.

The framework is supported by the India Energy Stack, which aims to provide common digital infrastructure for energy services. The initiative comes as India’s power system faces changing demand patterns, with peak electricity demand projected to approach 300 GW in 2027. Data centres, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles and the integration of renewable and distributed energy resources are expected to contribute to the increase.

Schneider Electric will provide expertise in digital grids, energy management, automation, distributed energy resources, building systems, microgrids, electric vehicle charging and industrial load management. These capabilities are intended to connect infrastructure, provide energy intelligence and support demand-side operational programmes within an open ecosystem.

Initial pilots will focus on utility energy intelligence, demand flexibility in industrial and building settings, home energy management, flexibility for fast electric vehicle charging, and carbon footprint accounting and trading. The projects will demonstrate ecosystem functions including discoverability, trust and transactability between value creators and value takers.

Deepak Sharma, Zone President for Greater India and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Schneider Electric India, said the collaboration would examine how open networks could support a more connected and responsive energy system. NFH Co-Founder Sujith Nair said interoperability between systems and participants would be important to realising the potential of digital and distributed energy. The organisations will assess operational and technical parameters before considering wider deployment and further formal agreements.