• Highlights of 2024
  • 2000+ Participants from 25+ countries | 7 Supporting Ministries, 15 Supporting Organisations and 18 Supporting Media Partners | 30 Key Partners, 20 Exhibitors, 5 Country Partners and 17 Conference Session Partners | 241 Speakers | 16 Thematic Sessions, 1 Master Class | 8 Bi-lateral & Focused Workshops | 2 Special Plenaries | 202 Participants from 32 Utilities | 60 Technical Papers Published and 25 Technical Papers Presented | 66 Winners amongst 11 ISGF Innovation Award Categories

9th ISGF INNOVATION AWARDS 2025
Award Ceremony on 21st March 2025 as a Part of
India Smart Utility Week (ISUW 2025)



Nomination Submission Link - https://forms.gle/XrVQAgjbfTWD5bYeA

Overview of ISGF Innovation Awards

ISGF Innovation Awards instituted in 2017 is aimed to recognize and to celebrate organizations (utilities and technology companies), projects, products and personalities that have set a new benchmark in Electricity, Gas, Water and E-Mobility domains. Till 2024, ISGF had selected and recognized more than 323 such organizations/ individuals. The 9th Edition of ISGF Innovation Awards 2025 will be conferred to the Winners on 21 March 2025.

India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF) invites public and private utilities, urban local bodies, technology companies, start-ups, incubators, researchers and academia to submit their nominations.

For more details, Please visit: https://isuw.in/innovation-awards; Email us at awards@isuw.in

Refer important links below for further details:

  • About India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF): https://indiasmartgrid.org/about
  • About India Smart Utility Week (ISUW) 2023: http://isuw.in/
  • Glimpses of Awards Ceremony 2023: https://www.flickr.com/photos/indiasmartgridforum/sets/72177720306710839/
  • For ISGF Innovation Awards 2024, the following award categories are open for nomination. Please refer below table for award categories and eligibility:

    Sr No

    Award Categories

    Who can Apply?

    Category Focus

    1


    Best Smart Grid Project in India
    a)Utility
    b)Technology Company/Implementing Agency


    Utilities (Public & Private) OR Implementing Agencies OR Technology Companies/EPC Contractors

    Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOMs) in India have executed several smart grid projects. This category will recognize holistic implementation, integration, and impact coming from successfully deployed solutions, rather than piece meal modules. Nominations will be divided into two categories:

    a) Utilities
    b) Technology Company/Implementing Agencies

    Please note: For the same project, only one nomination will be accepted. Utility and Implementing Agency can submit joint nomination if both are interested.

     

    2

    Most Innovative Renewable Energy Programs/Projects in India

    a. Solar (Utility Scale)
    b. Wind (Utility Scale)

    Implementing Agencies OR Technology Companies

    This award category will recognise the innovative measures adopted for the promotion of Solar or Wind Energy at Utility Scale by any Company/Agency/in India


    3

    Smart Technology

    a) Electricity - Generation
    b) Electricity - Transmission
    c) Electricity – Distribution
    d) Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
    e) Smart Gas Distribution
    f) Smart Water Distribution

    Utilities, Project Developers and Operators, Technology Providers, Start-ups and Entrepreneurs

    This award category will recognise successfully implemented smart technologies by following:

      a) Electricity GENCO, TRANSCO, DISCOM, ESS Developers and their Supporting Technology Providers.

      b) Gas Distribution Public and Private Utilities and their Supporting Technology/Solution Providers.

      c) Water Distribution Public and Private Utilities and their Supporting Technology/Solution Providers.

    Please Note: All the six sub-categories will have 3 levels of winners each called as Diamond, Platinum and Gold

    4

    Emerging Innovation in Electric Mobility Domain

    1. Electric Vehicle (2/3/4 wheelers and Public Transportation)

    2. EV and EVSE Rollouts

    3. EV and Charging Technology/Solution Providers

    4. Battery for Electric Mobility

    5. Smart Innovations in Smart Charging Infrastructure (including Smart Business Models)




    1. Manufacturers of Electric Vehicle – 2/3/4-Wheeler and Public Transport.

    2. Agencies who have operationalized large fleet of EVs – Buses, Taxis and 3 Wheelers

    3. Organisations who have rolled out EV and EV Charging System Infrastructure

    4. Companies who support the rollout of Electric Mobility in India through their solution, technology, design, manufacturing etc

    5. Companies who manufacture batteries for Electric Vehicles


    This Award category recognizes the most innovative EV and EVSE Design, Manufacture and Rollouts in India under each sub- category mentioned.

    Please note:

      a) Only OEMs, Fleet Operators and Public Transport Companies are eligible to submit Nominations in this category
      b) This Award Category recognizes the Successful projects that are completed and running for a minimum period of 1 yearas of 31 December 2023

    5

    Adoption of Disruptive Technology/Solution
    a) Utility
    b) Industry

    Utilities
    (Public & Private) OR Project Developers and Operators, Technology Providers, Start-ups and Entrepreneurs

    DISCOMs in India have adopted and implemented projects with several disruptive technologies such as Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Machine Learning, Robotics, Big Data, Drones, Internet of Things (IoT) etc .

    This category will recognize holistic implementation, integration, and impact coming from deployed solutions using the new/disruptive technologies such as AI, ML Robotics, Blockchain, AR & VR, IoT, Big Data, Drones etc.


    6

    Smart Start-up of the Year

    Start – ups with demonstrated solutions for utilities

    This award recognizes technology start-ups (revenue less than 100 crores in financial year 2022-2023), that have helped solving issues mainly for utilities and have enabled them and their end-customers to become efficient and smarter.

    7

    Smart Incubator of the Year




    Incubators, Entrepreneurship Cells (E-Cell)

    There are many incubators in India that are hosted and supported by Government, Academia, Industrial bodies, Corporate and others. They continue to play a strong role in aiding start-up ecosystem and promoting innovation. This award recognizes their contributions to the industry.


    8

    Finance For Energy Transition

    Angel Investors, Venture Capital Funds, Family Offices, Private Equity Funds, Development Financing Institutions, other Funding Agencies/Companies who have financed large RE, EV and other Clean Energy Projects and Technologies

    This award category recognizes funding Agencies and Companies who have funded large RE, EV and other Clean Energy Funded Projects as well as those funded break-through technologies that have the potential to drive energy transition.

    9

    Waste-to-Energy Projects (W2E)

    Municipalities and Project Developers who have successfully implemented W2E projects are eligible to apply

    This Award Category recognizes the Successful and Sustainable W2E projects that are completed and running for a minimum period of 1 year as of 31 December 2023.

    10

    ISGF President’s Award for the Best Contribution towards growth of Energy Transition in India


    Awardees will be selected by ISGF, nominations not required

    This Category recognizes the Best Contribution towards growth of Smart Grids, Clean Energy and Electric Mobility in India and Winners are chosen by ISGF

    Please note: Nominations are not invited for this category


    11

    Woman in Power

    Women personalities in the power sector

    This award category will recognize individual women,

    • a) Who is an entrepreneur having substantially contributed in building a startup based on an innovative product or solution registered not more than 5 years ago;
    • OR

    • b) Who has contributed substantially to the growth of a government organization including utilities, working in mid to senior level position;
    • OR

    • c) Has promoted initiatives focused on areas such as policy reform, innovative technology adoption, innovative financing etc. in the power sector

    1. One Project Nomination can only be submitted in one category (only). Nomination Submitting Party has to decide the best category suitable for winning the award relevant to the project and submit the nomination accordingly. In case of two nominations are received, second nomination as per the date and time will be considered invalid.

    2. ISGF holds the right to change the category of nomination in case same is proposed by Jury members

    3. All the Project Nominations should be successfully completed projects. Projects at idea/design/implementation stage will not be considered.

    4. No Nominations are invited for category: ISGF President’s Award for the Best Contribution towards Energy Transition in India.

    5. In case you feel that your Project deserves an Award but it is not fitting into any category – please write to us at awards@isuw.in

    1. Individuals or organizations as per details in the above table can apply.

    2. Nominations are invited from Indian Companies/Utilities and Companies working on Projects in India.

    3. If you do not belong to any of the types of organizations mentioned in the “Who can apply?” list above, but still believe that your entry fits the category description then you are encouraged to write to us at awards@isuw.in

    1. To get your contributions and achievements to the sector recognized on a credible platform
    2. To share the learnings made by you or your organization for broader industry benefits
    3. To encourage other individuals and organizations to adopt best practices and learn from peers
    4. To gain competitive edge and provide a tangible point of difference over competitors
    5. To strengthen public relations and prompt media to communicate positive message about you and your organization by sharing success stories
    6. The winners will be felicitated in front of International Experts and Chief Guests from Government, Utility and Industry
    7. Winners will be featured in ISGF Bulletin, India Smart Utility Week Post Event Reports, ISGF Annual Report, ISGF Social Media and India Smart Grid Knowledge Portal which would help them to get recognition nationally and internationally

    Below mentioned independent jury comprising of distinguished experts will evaluate the nominations and decide upon the winners.

     Jury Panel

    Brief Profile of Jury Panel



    Mr. V. Subramanian  
    Former Secretory
    Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India


    An IAS officer of the 1971 Batch, he was the Secretary of the MNRE (Ministry of New & Renewable Energy), Govt of India Mr. Subramanian joined the Premier Indian Administrative Service in 1971 (West Bengal Cadre). He served in the districts of West Bengal for many years and was also Principal Secretary, Labour and Power departments. He was on the boards of WBSEB, WBPDCL, DPL etc in West Bengal. Later he served the Ministry of Finance for over six years during which he dealt with public sector projects in the areas of transport, steel & mines, fertilizers, welfare, etc., external commercial borrowings, exchange control and bilateral aid. In recognition of expertise and experience in dealing with foreign exchange management in India, he was appointed Adviser on Loan and Grant Management to the Government of Mozambique, Maputo by the Commonwealth Secretariat, London for three years. Mr V Subramanian served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Indian Wind Energy Association from 2008 to 2019. . He was also an Advisor to HST Solar where he actively guided the executive team on strategy and regulatory issues.
    He served as Chairman of Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited from February 1, 2006 to June 26, 2007. He was also the Additional Secretary & Financial Adviser to the Ministries of Civil Aviation, Tourism and Culture from 2000 to 2005. As a nominee of the Government, he had served on the boards of Air India, Indian Airlines Ltd, Airports Authority of India, Pawanhans Helicopter Corporation of India, Tourism Finance Corporation etc. He was a Non-Executive & Independent Director of Sundaram-Clayton Ltd. from July 15, 2009 till recently. He serves as an Independent Director of GPS Renewables Pvt. Ltd, Adani Enterprises Ltd, Bhoruka Power Corporation Ltd and a few other companies. He served as an Independent Director of Mount Everest Mineral Water Limited from 2008 till 2018. Mr. Subramanian has a B. Com from University of Madras and Certified Associate of Indian Institute of Bankers, Bombay.

    Mr. P Uma Shankar  
    Former Secretary
    Ministry of Power, Government of India

    Mr P Uma Shankar is an Independent and Non-executive Director at Philips Lighting India Limited. He is a retired senior IAS officer who has held several notable positions in the past including Ex-Secretary of Ministry of Power and Ex-Chairman of Rural Electrification Corporation. He is also an independent director on the boards of Jaypee Infratech Ltd, IMP Powers Ltd and Ravindra Energy Ltd. He served earlier on the boards of ONGC Ltd and Shipping Corporation of India Ltd as independent director. He joined the Indian Administrative Services in 1976 and has more than three decades of leadership experience in the Government of India spanning district administration, rural development, finance, housing and urban development, rural and agro-industries, municipal affair and power. P Uma Shankar holds a master’s degree in Mathematics from IIT, Madras and a master’s degree in Social Policy and Planning in Developing Countries from the London School of Economics. He is currently associated with IIT Chennai in the development of an innovative approach for providing a certain minimum uninterrupted power supply to homes thereby eliminating blackouts.

    Padmaja Ruparel  
    Co-Founder
    Indian Angel Network;
    Founding Partner, IAN Fund

    Padmaja Ruparel is nationally recognized as a key player in the Indian entrepreneurial ecosystem and has helped co found many of the relevant institutions, besides being an active Angel investor herself. Her operating experience spans large corporates, M&A, and startups/early stage companies. She has been awarded as one of the 'Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Business' by Fortune India for 2017, 2018 2019, listed in Forbes India’s W- Power Trailblazers and “30 Most Powerful Women in India” by Business Today for 3 years running. The Women Economic Forum recognized her with its “Women of the Decade in Investment Banking” award. She is Co Founder & President of Indian Angel Network (IAN), India's first and now possibly one of the world’s largest group of business angels, comprising the who's who of successful entrepreneurs and dynamic CEOs from India and overseas. She built IAN from inception, making it within 15 years a unique institution globally, with close to 500 investors across 10 countries and a portfolio of 175+ companies in 7 countries, spanning 17 sectors. She has operationalised IAN’s international operations in London – making it the only angel group in the world to set up operations outside of its home country. Padmaja has been nominated as Co Chair of Global Business Angel Network (GBAN). She is a member of the National Expert Advisory Committee on Innovation, Incubation and Technology Entrepreneurship. She is a member of several committees of BIRAC (Dept. of Biotech, Govt. of India), various committees of Ministry of Finance, DPIIT, & SEBI. Padmaja is the Senior Managing Partner of the IAN Fund, a uniquely differentiated Fund which along with IAN, is set to create the largest horizontal platform in India for investing in seed and early stage ventures. She is a member of the Governing Council of EM3 Services, a nation building venture seeking to create a paradigm shift in the Indian agricultural sector by improving productivity. Padmaja is an Independent Director on the Boards of Avendus Finance Pvt. Ltd. & Ester Industries Ltd. Apart from cofounding IAN, she also set up and operationalised the Delhi chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TIE) the world’s largest organization focused on entrepreneurship with over 16,000 members across more than 60 chapters across 14 countries. She also established a unique model of an incubator, in partnership with the Indian Government, leveraging 400 mentors to provide mentoring & domain expertise to around 50 young fledgling incubatee companies. She played a key role as Executive Director in building the Indian Venture Capital Association, India's oldest and largest association of VC and PE firms. Currently, she is a member of IVCA’s Limited Partners Council. She helped the creation of Lankan Angel Network in Sri Lanka. She contributed actively in the Planning Commission’s Committee on “Angel & Early Stage Investing in India” which resulted in a seminal report: “Creating a Vibrant Entrepreneurial Eco system in India”. In her corporate avatar at Xansa India, (Xansa was a US$800mn company listed on LSE before being acquired by Steria), she led several functions over a 16 year period : handled recruitment operations, built and successfully executed an innovative brand and communication strategy and led the corporate social responsibility initiative which engaged employees, clients as also the government. She was a key member of the corporate strategy and M&A team as the Company went public, forged joint ventures and the final acquisition of the Indian company. Padmaja picked up entrepreneurial strings very early in her career – she revived and grew the family real estate business in Calcutta – growing if from 50,000 sq ft to over 250,000 sq ft over 2 years and turned it around to become a profitable business. A graduate with English Honours, Padmaja then completed her MBA as well as Chartered Accountancy (Intermediate) with her internship with S.R. Batliboi (an E&Y group company).

    Mr. BP Singh   
    Former Member
    Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC)

    Mr BP Singh is a graduate in Mining Engineering from Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad and has over 40 years of experience in the power & energy sector.

    He was a Former Member in DERC (Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission). He has issued three successive Tariff Orders for the period 2014 to 2018, being consumer friendly, were highly acclaimed at all levels. As a part of Power sector Reforms, formulated progressive Regulations on Tariff, Net Metering and Demand Side Management and Modified SOP to make it more consumer friendly. Efficacious remedy for redressal of Consumer’s Grievance has been enhanced by making the Regulations consumer friendly and initiated action for creation of legal aid cell for the benefit of the Consumer’s.

    Prior to taking up the assignment as Member DERC, he rose to the position of Director (Projects) in NTPC, where he additionally had also held assignments viz, Chairman, BRBCL; Chairman NTPC SCCL Global Ventures Pvt. Ltd.; whole time Director of NTPC Hydro Ltd.; BFSNL Ltd. etc.

    He has been part of numerous high-level committees constituted by the Government of India for formulation of Plan proposals and Policies including Energy Policy, pricing of Coal etc.

    He has actively participated in formulation of policies for the Regulatory Commissions under the aegis of Forum of India Regulators. He has been associated with numerous professional institutions, viz

    1. “Institute Senate Member’ – Dr BR Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar;

    2. Member of General Body & Peer Review Committee of National Institute of Rock Mechanics under Ministry of Mines,

    3 Member of the Board of Construction Industry Development Council, joint council by Indian Construction industry and Planning Commission,

    He had been adjudged and awarded Best Director Projects Corporate Excellence Award 2012-13 – GEOMINTECH; Awarded at Brisbane Dadari Project – awarded for project excellence in 25th IPMA World Congress at Brisbane in 2011;

    The Award will be awarded in below mentioned levels under each category:

    S.No

    Award

    Rank

    1

    Diamond Award


      1st Rank

    2

    Platinum Award


    2nd Rank

    3

    Gold Award


    3rd Rank


    The following parameters will be key while evaluating the nominations. It is advised that the nominations submitted aim to address these points as clearly as possible with evidence/supporting documents:

    S.No

    Parameters

    Parameter Focus

    1

    Scale/Size


    i) Mention Project customer size

    ii) Project should be completed rolled out

    2

    Functionality and Features


    Functionality and Features of the Project

    3

    Impact


    Impact of the Project


    4

    Innovation


    i)Specify Alternate Solution

    ii)Comparison of your solution with others / existing solutions

    iii)Competitive Analysis

    5

    Return on Investment and Sustainability


    Return on Investment and Sustainability of the Project


    6

    Scalability


    Mention if project is further scalable or confined

    7

    Customer Testimony

    Attach/Add some 5 – 10 testimony from your current customers

    8*

    If you are submitting for the nomination category - Smart Start-up of the Year

    Mention the Profile of Team Members in the Nomination Form




    Jury evaluation and filtering for presentation round

    50 Marks

    Project Presentation to Juries

    50 Marks


    APPLY BEFORE

    20 Dec 2023

    JURY PRESENTATION (ROUND 2)

    08 – 09 Feb 2024

    AWARD DISTRIBUTION

    15 March 2023

    1. Participants can be utilities, individuals or any registered company /organization

    2. At the time of submitting the application, please ensure that you have provided all the necessary details. Incomplete applications will not be accepted

    3. The submissions will be evaluated on the criteria as specified in the evaluation criterion section

    4. All documents submitted shall be used only for evaluation purposes

    5. ISGF reserves the right to reject any entry based on its discretion

    6. ISGF reserves the right to cancel or amend all or any part of the competition and/ or the rules

    7. Any changes to the rules, or cancellation of the competition, will be posted on the contest page on ISGF/ISUW portals. It is the responsibility of the participants to keep themselves informed as to any changes to the rules

    8. ISGF team and partners will not be held responsible if the participants are not able to submit their entries on ISGF portal by email before the last date & time of submission for any reason whatsoever

    9. ISGF accepts no responsibility for any damage, loss or injury of any kind suffered by any participant in participating in the Award, including as a result of any participant winning or not winning any prize

    10. The jury of the ISGF Innovation Award 2021 shall have the final authority in determining the winner of the award in each category. The decision of the Jury shall be final, conclusive and binding, the winner or any other person shall have no legal or any other rights to contest or dispute the decision of the jury

    11. In the event that no Participant in a category is found to be worthy of an award by the Jury, the Award category may be cancelled by the Jury

    12. The award category nomination selected in the nomination form can be changed to other award category by ISGF based on the information provided in the form. The change in award category nomination will be communicated by the ISGF team to the respective nominees

    13. The nominee accepts that content of the nomination form, photography / video recording during and after the event can be used by the ISGF and partners for purpose of producing editorial content and advertising materials

    14. All prizes are non-transferable

    15. By registering for participation in the Contest, the Participant(s) warrant that:

        1. They have complied with the Entry conditions mentioned above

        2. Their entry is original

        3. Their entry does not infringe any Intellectual Property Rights of any third parties

    16. There is no fee of any kinds for participation in ISGF Innovation Awards

    • The Judgment of the Jury shall be deemed as final

    • Read Details:Visit our website: https://www.isuw.in/innovation-awards

    • Identify your Category:Read thoroughly the website page and understand the Nomination Categories table with details regarding the award category, eligibility and description. (In case of doubt, please feel free to reach us)

    • Fill the Nomination Form Online and Submit: Fill each and every detail as asked by us for evaluation of your Nomination by Juries

    • Email Us for Queries :Write to us at awards@isuw.in

    • Please note: Any Nomination Form and its Document’s in Hard Copy or Email will not be accepted. Online submission is Mandatory.

    ISGF Award Secretariat | For more details, Winner selection procedure and to submit Nomination, please visit: http://www.isuw.in/innovation-awards/
    Direct link for nomination form: https://forms.gle/1kZpMfxuJ38J8qFS9
    Last date to apply for Online Nominations has been extended to 28 Dec 2023
    For queries, please write to us at awards@isuw.in

    To view ISGF Innovation Awards 2024 Winners, please visit - https://isuw.in/winners-innovation-awards-2024/
    To view ISGF Innovation Awards 2023 Winners, please visit - https://isuw.in/winners-innovation-awards-2023/
    To view ISGF Innovation Awards 2022 Winners, please visit - https://www.isuw.in/isgf-innovation-awards-2022/
    To view ISGF Innovation Awards 2021 Winners, please visit - https://www.isuw.in/isgf-innovation-awards-2021/