UPSC DAW Mains Answer Writing 2025 25th September

UPSC DAW Mains Answer Writing 2025 25th September

Question

Artificial Intelligence (AI) promises to optimize India’s energy sector but also poses the challenge of rising energy demand. Discuss the opportunities and risks of AI in India’s energy landscape, and suggest an actionable way forward. 

Model Answer

Introduction: 

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming India’s energy sector by forecasting demand, integrating renewables, and optimizing grids. However, the exponential rise in data centres and AI computing is projected to push India’s electricity demand sharply upward—from 2 GW in 2022 to ~45 GW by    

  • Opportunities of AI in Energy Sector: 

  • Smart Grid Management: AI enables real-time monitoring, demand forecasting, and automated load balancing. 

  • Renewable Energy Integration: Improves efficiency of solar-wind hybrids by predicting weather variations and storage needs. 

  • Energy Efficiency in Industries: AI helps industries reduce energy wastage, optimize production cycles, and cut emissions. 

  • Consumer-side Applications: Smart meters and IoT-driven AI devices optimize household energy use, lowering peak load. 

  • Infrastructure Planning: AI can simulate demand growth and assist in efficient infrastructure investments. 

 

  • Risks and Challenges: 

  • Rising Energy Demand of AI Systems: Data centres consume 40–50 times more power than office buildings; global demand may rise 3–4x by 2030. 

  • Pressure on Grid Capacity: India may need an additional 45 GW capacity by 2030 just for AI-linked data centres—equivalent to half of current industrial demand. 

  • Dependence on Fossil Fuels: Renewable growth may not match AI-driven demand; risk of fallback on coal/natural gas. 

  • Carbon Footprint of AI: Training large AI models emits significant CO₂, raising environmental concerns. 

  • Inequity of Access: AI energy applications may largely benefit urban-industrial centres, widening rural-urban energy gaps. 

 Way Forward:  

  • Balancing AI and Energy Security 

  • Renewable Expansion: Accelerate investments in solar, wind, hydro, and nuclear; integrate rooftop solar for urban data hubs. 

  • Energy-efficient AI Models: Encourage development of “green AI” algorithms that require less computing power. 

  • Policy Nudges: Mandate green certification for data centres; incentivize adoption of clean power. 

  • Circular Cooling Systems: Promote water- and air-efficient cooling technologies to reduce operational emissions of data hubs. 

  • Public-Private Collaboration:  Partnerships with global tech firms and Indian utilities to ensure AI expansion aligns with Net Zero 2070 goals. 

 Conclusion:  

  • AI presents a double-edged sword, a balanced path lies in greening AI infrastructure, scaling renewables, and enforcing sustainable practices. Thus, AI should be seen not as a threat but as a strategic enabler, provided energy policies anticipate its exponential demand.