Abu Dhabi’s SmartWat signs strategic deal with BSES to boost grid resilience in Delhi
SmartWat and BSES sign strategic pact to deploy AI, BESS and DERs under the ‘Resilience’ initiative to boost Delhi’s grid resilience to meet growing demand.
SmartWat and BSES formalise strategic partnership in New Delhi
Abu Dhabi-based SmartWat signed a strategic agreement with BSES Rajdhani Power during a ceremony hosted at the UAE embassy in New Delhi, advancing plans to strengthen grid resilience in the Indian capital. The signing, attended by UAE Ambassador to India Dr. Abdul Nasser Al Shaali, marks the start of a collaboration to bring Emirati innovations in AI, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and distributed energy resources (DERs) to Delhi’s distribution network.
The deal is being advanced under SmartWat’s initiative titled “Resilience,” which aims to integrate software, storage and decentralized generation to make electricity networks smarter and more adaptable. Company executives say the partnership is intended as a scalable model that can be replicated across India to improve operational flexibility and sustainability.
Technical scope focuses on AI-led control and storage deployment
The memorandum sets out a technical programme that pairs artificial intelligence platforms with BESS and DER orchestration to optimise demand response and grid balancing. SmartWat will supply algorithms and system architecture that enable real-time monitoring, predictive optimisation and automated dispatch of reserves across targeted substations.
BSES Rajdhani Power will work with SmartWat on system integration, pilot deployments and operational trials that test how AI-driven control can reduce network bottlenecks and improve load management. The combined use of storage and distributed resources is expected to shave peak demand and provide ancillary services previously sourced from conventional plants.
Priority substations identified after joint technical assessments
SmartWat and BSES completed joint technical assessments of Delhi’s distribution network and have identified priority substations and network constraints for initial interventions. Those assessments informed the sequencing of pilots and have guided the initial designs for demand-side flexibility measures across high-impact feeders.
Project teams have already moved to the execution planning phase, where timelines, procurement and interoperability testing will be finalised. Officials said the phased approach will allow the partners to validate performance locally before scaling the solution across additional zones in the city.
AI command-and-control centre to enable real-time coordination
A central element of the initiative is the establishment of an AI-supported command-and-control centre to coordinate distributed assets and storage resources. This control hub will provide BSES with instant visibility into resource status, automated optimisation recommendations and a scalable framework for future network services.
SmartWat describes the control centre as a turnkey platform that combines operational dashboards, forecasting modules and secure communications for asset owners and grid operators. The capability is designed to accelerate operational decision‑making during peak events and to facilitate smoother integration of renewable generation.
Senior executives position partnership as a model for wider deployment
SmartWat’s co-founder and CEO, Dr. Sameh Al‑Khatib, said the agreement represents a milestone in exporting Emirati energy innovation to a major international market. He stated that the Resilience initiative was developed in the UAE to address challenges common to fast‑growing economies, and that Delhi provides an opportunity to demonstrate a replicable operating model.
BSES Rajdhani Power Chief Executive Abhishek Ranjan said the collaboration will help the company meet rising demand while progressing on sustainability targets. Both organisations emphasised that lessons learned in the Delhi pilots will inform potential rollouts across additional Indian cities and distribution networks.
Strategic economic context and bilateral trade ties
The collaboration comes amid expanding commercial ties between the United Arab Emirates and India, where bilateral trade has surpassed the $100 billion mark and governments aim for $200 billion by 2032. Industry observers say such public‑private technology partnerships reinforce the broader trade and investment agenda while mobilising private capital and expertise for energy transition projects.
Analysts note that India’s distribution sector is under growing pressure from urbanisation and electrification of transport and buildings, making demand flexibility and storage deployment priorities for utilities. The SmartWat‑BSES partnership is positioned as an example of how cross‑border technology transfer can accelerate grid modernisation at scale.
This deal also reflects a wider trend of Gulf energy and technology firms exporting solutions to South Asian markets, where dense populations and rising electricity consumption create large opportunities for digital grid upgrades. Stakeholders expect the pilots in Delhi to generate operational data and commercial models that can be adapted to different regulatory and market conditions across India.
SmartWat and BSES plan to publish progress updates as pilots move into execution and to engage with regulators and market participants on frameworks that support demand‑side flexibility. The partners say their objective is not only to improve reliability and reduce peak strain, but also to create a scalable pathway for integrating more clean energy into distribution systems.
Officials indicated that implementation schedules, procurement partners and specific pilot locations will be announced as project milestones are reached, while emphasising that the initiative seeks to combine commercial viability with measurable improvements in network performance and sustainability.
The partnership underscores a converging interest among utilities, technology firms and governments to deploy storage, distributed resources and intelligent control systems that enhance resilience, reduce losses and support long‑term decarbonisation goals.