Sanjeev Sinha, president of IT and digitalisation at India Power Corporation Limited (IPCL), drives digital transformation initiatives to make IPCL a data-centric organisation. With 34 years of diverse industry experience, including roles at Indian Airlines, Delta Air Lines (USA), British Oxygen, MJunction (Tata Steel) and OnProcess Technology, where he served as senior VP-Asia Pac and board member, Sinha brings to the table a wealth of expertise.
According to Sinha, India’s power sector has grown significantly over the past year, particularly in technology adoption and renewable energy. The distribution segment is adopting smart grid technology, with the deployment of 250 million smart meters, helping to reduce AT&C losses to 15 per cent and improving billing efficiencies. Renewable energy capacity has increased to 182.05 GW, accounting for 42.3 per cent of the total installed capacity, with notable contributions from solar and wind power.
Sinha notes that the sector is poised for growth in the coming years, with rising investments in solar and wind energy, given the targets of 500 GW of renewable capacity by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2070. Advances in battery storage, smart grid modernisation and expanded electric vehicle infrastructure will boost efficiency and reliability. Rural areas will benefit from renewable-powered microgrids and distributed energy resources such as rooftop solar. Virtual power plant models will help bridge demand-supply gaps, supported by government subsidies and tax incentives, positioning India as a leader in sustainable energy and carbon emission reduction. However, Sinha notes, challenges persist, including high debt, financial losses and inefficiencies among discoms, as well as obstacles in integrating renewable energy due to intermittent supply and technological limitations.
Sinha’s achievements include launching India’s first Digital Tea Auction process, approved by the Tea Board of India, and introducing e-procurement at the Rourkela Steel Plant, which earned the plant a gold medal from the Ministry of Finance. In his current role, he leads technology-driven solutions for utilities, expanding their offerings to other companies and assuming the role of P&L head.
Sinha has a transformational management style and believes in inspiring team members, focusing on change, encouraging personal development and fostering a positive culture. He is an engineer by training from IIT Kharagpur and has an MBA from Georgia State University, USA.