Nearly 150 delegates from over 30 power companies and equipment suppliers across four southern states assembled to share field‑level insights on the digital and automation frontier of thermal power.
At a time when India’s grid is being tested by renewable intermittency, increasing load volatility, and rising cyber threats, SEIL Energy India Ltd initiated a major industry‑led dialogue around control, instrumentation, and automation at thermal power plants in South India. The Gurugram-based firm, one of India’s leading independent power producers (IPPs), hosted the two‑day ‘C&I Connect 2026’ conference in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, on May 21-22.
Nearly 150 delegates representing over 30 power companies and equipment suppliers from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka exchanged field‑level insights on the digital and automation frontier of thermal power.
Commending SEIL for starting conversation on topics critical to India’s fast‑expanding energy sector, K Srinivasa Rao, Director of Thermal & Projects at the state‑owned Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Co. Ltd (APPDCL), said, “As our plants navigate the twin imperatives of greater operational efficiency and digital resilience, platforms like these—where sector leaders and on‑the‑ground practitioners speak to each other directly—are not a luxury but a necessity.”
Anchored on the theme ‘Sustainable Solutions through Advanced Instrumentation and Cyber‑Resilient Systems in Thermal Power Plants’, the conference featured technical presentations and panel discussions across several domains. These included advanced digital control architectures (DCS/SCADA), industrial IoT and operational technology (OT) cybersecurity, and predictive maintenance using artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML). Sessions also examined automatic generation control (AGC) implementation, flexible plant operations for grid support, and strategies for environmental compliance.
Janmejaya Mahapatra, CEO, SEIL Energy India Ltd, noted, “Thermal power will remain the backbone of India’s energy security for decades ahead, but the plants that will endure and lead are those that embrace intelligent systems, robust cyber defences, and a culture of continuous innovation. C&I Connect 2026 is our contribution to accelerating that transition.”
The enthusiastic participation by South India‑based IPPs, along with the presence of leading control system and instrumentation vendors, created a live ecosystem of knowledge exchange. The conclave bridged the gap between technology available in the market and solutions deployable on the plant floor, reinforcing the importance of collaboration in strengthening India’s thermal power infrastructure.