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Check out this whitepaper on this topic based on my work on interconnection guidelines:IWE-AI Large Load Interconnection Article.pdf.

The explosive growth of AI data centers — with single campuses now demanding 1–3 GW of power — has forced a fundamental regulatory reckoning in the U.S. electric grid. Load interconnection, historically a local utility matter outside FERC's jurisdiction, is now squarely a federal concern: gigawatt-scale loads with fast, synchronized variability don't stay local — their disturbances propagate across balancing areas and consume reserves in neighboring grids. In response, DOE directed FERC in October 2025 to initiate rulemaking (ANOPR, Docket RM26-4-000), FERC ordered PJM to overhaul its co-location tariff in December 2025, approved SPP's HILL initiative in January 2026, and committed to a final rule by June 2026. The technical requirements emerging from this process — fault ride-through, reactive power support, demand flexibility as a frequency response equivalent, and ELCC-based accreditation of co-located generation — mirror almost exactly the requirements FERC imposed on large wind and solar plants over the 2012–2024 period, for the same underlying grid physics reasons. On the commercial side, standardized study processes, 100% participant funding of network upgrades, and "bring your own power" co-location structures are becoming the new norm. The right framework — uniform across all ISOs — should be built on a net dependable load obligation principle: a data center's grid obligation is its gross load minus only the ELCC-accredited, firm, behind-the-meter capacity, not its nameplate co-located generation. Done right, large AI loads, with genuine demand flexibility commitments, can be grid assets rather than liabilities — but only if the rules are uniform, technically rigorous, and fairly allocate costs to those who cause them.

Gujarat’s Green GW-Scale AI Data Center Hub takes a major step forward with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Larsen & Toubro Vyoma (Data Center Division) and the Government of Gujarat for the development of a 250 MW hyperscale, AI-ready data center in Dholera.

The project positions Dholera as a flagship location within the state’s emerging AI infrastructure ecosystem and establishes L&T Vyoma as the anchor client for the hub. Designed to support large-scale AI training and inference workloads, the facility will form a foundational component of Gujarat’s sovereign, energy-aligned digital infrastructure strategy.

Proud to have contributed to the development of this green, GW-scale AI Data Center Hub through strong collaboration between DST, Government of Gujarat, and the L&T Vyoma team. It is rewarding to see the MoU we worked on come to fruition — a tangible milestone in advancing Gujarat’s AI and digital infrastructure journey.

Looking ahead to the next phase and to translating this momentum into concrete progress toward building Gujarat’s first AI data center.

Special thanks to the DST team — Secretary P. Bharathi, Kavita Shah, Wasim Mansuri, and Smita Gosai — and to L&T — Prashant Chiranjive Jain, Seema Ambastha, and Kruti Badjatiya — for the strong partnership and execution focus.

For details see: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/pramodjain_hyperscale-aiinfrastructure-datacentres-activity-7430681775485583360-WrNs?rcm=ACoAAAAwQZ8BNUHli1k_1AWdirUfw6k8poE1yR0

We’re pleased to share that Akash, Senior Consultant at IWE AI Infra, will be participating in the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Summit 2026 in Rajkot (January 11–13).

At the summit, Akash will present and discuss the IWE Multicriteria Site Selection (IMSS) methodology—a rigorous, engineering-led framework for identifying suitable locations for gigawatt-scale Green AI Data Centers. The core message is simple but often overlooked: AI data-center site selection is a systems-engineering problem, not a real-estate exercise.

IMSS evaluates candidate sites across seven non-negotiable dimensions—power and grid proximity, digital connectivity, water availability, land and geophysical suitability, climate resilience, environmental constraints, and security risk—and integrates them into a two-step cost framework combining Basic Startup Cost and Climate-Adjusted Startup Cost (CASC). Applied to a Gujarat case study, the methodology transparently ranks multiple SIRs and GIFT City and aligns site selection with Availability Zone (AZ) triangle architecture, enabling hyperscaler-grade reliability.

The takeaway: IMSS provides an investor-grade, defensible basis for developing long-term, reliable, and globally competitive AI data-center infrastructure in Gujarat and beyond.

#VibrantGujarat2026 #AIDatacenters #GreenAI #AIInfrastructure #AvailabilityZones #SystemsEngineering #PolicyAndInfrastructure #Gujarat

IWE AI Infra is currently leading the development of a state-level Green AI Data Center strategy for the Government of Gujarat, working closely with Department of Science and Technology (key nodal agency for data centers) and key state institutions. The objective of the initiative is to position Gujarat as India’s leading hub for large-scale, sustainable AI compute infrastructure, capable of supporting next-generation AI training, inference, and reasoning workloads.

As part of this effort, IWE AI Infra has conducted a deep site selection exercise across seven candidate locations within the state. The analysis applied a multicriteria, GIS-based methodology to evaluate and rank sites based on power availability and cost, grid strength, land suitability, water availability, optical fiber connectivity, environmental and social constraints, risk, and long-term climate resilience.

A central element of the strategy is the design of India’s first Availability Zone (AZ) triangle architecture for AI data centers. This architecture is intended to deliver hyperscaler-grade reliability, enabling high-density, mission-critical AI workloads through physically separated yet tightly interconnected zones with independent infrastructure.

IWE AI Infra is also responsible for gigawatt-scale capacity sizing, capital and operating cost estimation, grid readiness and interconnection assessment, and the development of a clean power sourcing strategy aligned with Gujarat’s renewable energy strengths. The work ensures that power, transmission, and energy procurement considerations are fully integrated into site selection and master planning from the outset.

In parallel, the project has developed comprehensive incentive frameworks to attract global hyperscalers and AI infrastructure investors. These include recommendations on power tariffs, CAPEX and OPEX-linked tax incentives, land and infrastructure facilitation, and regulatory mechanisms designed to accelerate deployment while maintaining long-term sustainability and fiscal discipline.

Together, these efforts establish a structured, engineering-led foundation for Gujarat’s emergence as a globally competitive, green AI data center destination.

Presented the final technical report on repowering of a 50 MW wind power plant in Gujarat to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Energy and Petrochemicals. Proud of my team and our collaboration with GEDA to move the project forward. The project is funded by a grant from the ADB.

I was glad to participate in the AI/ML & Physical Models: Redefining Weather and Energy Forecasts. Presented Solar and Wind Generation Forecasting with Amogh Kaliwal and Shweta Mukim.

The presentation covered the artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques employed to generate the forecasts. 

Enjoyed visit to Seguventivu wind farm owned by WindForce.

Visited various wind power plants that are at the end of life and candidates for repowering.

Organized an onshore and offshore wind power workshop on March 20-21, 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Find agenda and presentations: Agenda and Presentations

IWE conducted a workshop for PLN Renewable Energy Division, PLN Engineering, PLN Indonesia Power and PLN Nusantara Power from Dec 3 to 4, 2024 in Jakarta.

IWE conducted a workshop on Wind resource assessment for PLN Renewable Energy Division, PLN Engineering, PLN Indonesia Power and PLN Nusantara Power on Dec 5-6, 2024.

Conducted 3-day workshop at R2E2 Armenia on Wind Energy.