SmartWatt Consulting and Integrated Energy Services, an Abu Dhabi-headquartered energy technology company, and BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd. (BRPL), one of India’s leading electricity distribution companies serving Delhi, have formalized a strategic engagement under the Muruna Initiative.
The agreement was signed during a ceremony at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in New Delhi in the presence of Dr. Abdulnasser Jamal Alshaali, UAE Ambassador to India. The two companies have completed technical assessments, identified priority substations and network constraints, and are advancing implementation planning for demand-side flexibility across Delhi’s electricity network.
The engagement introduces UAE-developed grid flexibility solutions to India’s power sector. Under the Muruna Initiative, SmartWatt combines Artificial Intelligence (AI), Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) to support utilities in building more flexible, resilient and sustainable electricity networks.
The initiative is intended to establish a scalable model for demand-side flexibility that can be replicated across India to support utilities in modernizing electricity networks. It also envisages the development of an AI-enabled Command and Control Centre to manage demand-side flexibility resources, providing real-time visibility, optimization capabilities and a scalable platform for future grid services.
The SmartWatt-BSES collaboration is among a growing number of business-to-business partnerships reflecting the expanding commercial relationship between UAE and India.
Bilateral trade between the two countries has exceeded $100 billion, with both governments targeting $200 billion by 2032. Partnerships in sectors including clean energy, digital infrastructure and advanced technology are expected to support that objective.
Dr. Sameh El Khatib, Co-Founder and CEO – SmartWatt
“Muruna was built in the UAE to solve a problem every fast-growing economy shares: how to make the grid more flexible, more resilient, and more sustainable without compromising reliability. Partnering with BSES allows us to bring that innovation to one of the most dynamic distribution networks in the world. This is Abu Dhabi technology working for Delhi’s consumers. Through the Muruna Initiative, our ambition is not only to support one utility, but to create a scalable framework that can accelerate grid flexibility across India and beyond.”
Abhishek Ranjan, Chief Executive Officer of BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd., said that, “We are proud to demonstrate what UAE-India collaboration can achieve for India’s consumers. We believe the partnership with SmartWatt has the potential to establish a benchmark for demand-side flexibility in India, demonstrating how digital technologies, energy storage and distributed energy resources can work together to unlock greater value for both consumers and the electricity network.”
The Muruna Initiative reflects the growing collaboration between UAE technology companies and Indian utilities in deploying next-generation energy solutions with the potential to scale across the country.
The Muruna initiative is also implementing a flagship program with the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEBL) under a World Bank-supported program, demonstrating the adaptability of the Muruna platform across different utility environments. The engagements are aimed at supporting the modernization of India’s electricity sector through scalable, intelligent and sustainable energy solutions.
