According to Arun Kumar, CEO of power trading company Kreate Energy, technology can play a key role in power management and trading. “With the advances in technology and our newly developed software, we can get highly reliable forecasting of demand and supply, especially from renewable sour-ces. There is a precise integration of wea-ther conditions in the forecast. Traders should be prepared to incorporate such technology into their operations.”
Kumar’s 30-year-long career started with Mott MacDonald. He served as a consultant with leading organisations for about 12 year, in the areas of power and infrastructure. He went on to lead the power equity research teams at HSBC. Kumar has advised a wide range of clients including the central and state governments, utilities, regulators, corporates as well agencies like the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and USAID. He undertook multiple assignments in the areas of clean technology and renewables, and was awarded the UNFCCC fellowship in 2005 for his contribution to climate change.
Kreate Energy (formerly Mittal Processors Private Limited) is amongst the top three players in the power trading industry, and has traded for a number of utilities and open access clients. Kumar is involved in providing advisory services for cost optimisation and technological support for load and demand management. He is also involved in other divisions of the firm like solar, small-hydro and LED manufacturing. Going forward, he plans to focus on emerging areas in power management that would help Kreate diversify its presence in the value chain.
On the outlook for the sector, he says, “India is, for the first time, sufficiently equipped to supply 24×7 power to its consumers. However, there are multiple challenges relating to discoms’ profitability, domestic coal availability and NPAs that need to be resolved.” On the power trading market, he says that a key challenge for the industry is cost pressures. “The power trading industry has seen major growth in recent years, but there are serious margin pressures.”
An alumnus of the Delhi School of Economics, Kumar recently obtained a diploma in artificial intelligence for business from MIT, USA. Kumar starts his day early and spends considerable time on fitness activities. He also enjoys playing golf and watching sports on TV. Kumar describes his wife, a homemaker, as the most important member of the family, who has been solely responsible for raising their three children.