IIT Delhi, ERLDC join hands to develop AI device for demand side energy management

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) has partnered with the Eastern Regional Load Dispatch Centre (ERLDC), under Grid India, for consumer-centric energy solutions. The collaboration has been set up to design and develop an AI-enabled smart device equipped with a real Time-of-Use (ToU) tariff-based demand-side management controller.

It represents a major advancement in the smart grid ecosystem in India. ERLDC is one of the five Regional Load Dispatch Centres (RLDCs) of grid-India that maintains grid reliability for the eastern states.

“The project also emphasises data security and privacy through the integration of wireless network protection and encryption mechanisms, ensuring secure data exchange between devices and controllers. A user dashboard will further help consumers visualise their energy usage and savings in real time,” the official IIT Delhi statement said.

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IIT Delhi, ERLDC: New step towards smarter homes

The joint project will work on an intelligent home energy management system that can effectively optimise household electricity use and reduce the associated cost. The prototype will integrate smart plugs, sensors, and a microcontroller based on real-time inputs derived from ToU pricing, weather patterns, occupancy data, and user behavior.

The system will be able to automatically control the connected loads, thereby improving demand flexibility and contributing to grid stability at peak hours, using machine learning algorithms.

IIT Delhi, ERLDC: Multi-disciplinary team at work

The project will be led by Professor Ankit Singhal from IIT Delhi's Department of Electrical Engineering and supported by Abhijit Abhyankar, Aanandrup Das, and Tarun Mangla. ERLDC's contribution to research and development will come from Manas Das the project manager, and Alok Pratap Singh, project coordinator of Grid-India.

The dean of corporate relations at IIT Delhi, Preeti Ranjan Panda: “This partnership reflects IIT Delhi’s focus on developing innovative solutions that support India’s energy transition. With rising electricity demand and dynamic pricing structures, it is essential to empower consumers with intelligent tools to manage their energy use efficiently.”