India’s rising electricity demand and expanding renewable capacity are changing how power plants need to operate to ensure an uninterrupted power supply. Toshiba JSW Power Systems Pvt Ltd (Toshiba JSW) is responding with technologies focused on flexible operations, predictive analysis, and AI-enabled solutions.
Q1: Where does Toshiba see itself in the overall energy transition programme of India?
A: Daisuke Murata: Toshiba JSW has a factory in Chennai, where we manufacture Steam Turbines and Generators (STGs). India currently requires a significant amount of electrical power, and we are providing steam turbines to meet this requirement. However, power plants face various operational challenges. So, in addition to equipment supply, we are providing digital solutions that can predict potential risks and support reliable plant operations through predictive analysis and AI-enabled technologies. The energy transition in India is very important, and the requirement for power is increasing significantly. We also plan to provide additional equipment and solutions to our customers as India’s energy requirements continue to evolve.
"From a technology perspective, we are going to focus on how AI can be effectively integrated with our existing plant technologies and operational knowledge "
Q2: Toshiba is known for technology. What technology are you bringing into the Indian market?
A: Tadafumi Shintani: We are manufacturing and supplying STGs from India. Nowadays, flexible operation is increasingly required in India as renewable power capacity continues to grow. Power plants need to respond to changing load requirements, with higher and lower levels of generation depending on power demand and the availability of renewable power. This kind of flexible operation is becoming increasingly important.
So, at this time, we are promoting our digital technologies. Through our US subsidiary, we are providing predictive analysis technology called Advanced Pattern Recognition (APR). We are currently implementing this technology for one of the largest power utilities in India, and the project is also among the largest of its kind in the Indian power sector. This technology can contribute significantly to the power utility sector by helping identify potential issues in advance and supporting more reliable and flexible plant operations. Q3: How is Toshiba applying AI in power plant operations, particularly where strict security requirements limit the use of cloud-based AI, and how are you using generative AI and knowledge databases to support operators?
A: Daisuke Murata: Yes, we have already incorporated AI technology into our APR solution, and we are continuing to develop its capabilities further. In power plant operations, cybersecurity and data security are critical, and strict security requirements can limit the use of cloud-based AI. Therefore, our approach is to develop AI solutions that can address these requirements while supporting secure plant operations. We are also exploring the use of on-premises generative AI through one of our group companies in India. By integrating this technology into our existing tools, we may create workflows that help operators identify appropriate solutions to operational issues. By combining generative AI with our knowledge database, operators can more easily access relevant information and understand the actions they can take.
Tadafumi Shintani: From a technology perspective, we are going to focus on how AI can be effectively integrated with our existing plant technologies and operational knowledge. By combining plant data with our engineering expertise, AI can help provide timely insights and support operators in identifying potential issues at an early stage. We believe this practical application of AI will be important in improving the reliability, efficiency and flexibility of power plant operations.
Q4. How are you bringing awareness about your technology products among your customer base? How are you marketing them?
A: Daisuke Murata: We already have a well-established customer base in India, which gives us a strong platform to introduce and demonstrate our latest technologies directly to our existing customers.
Industry exhibitions also provide valuable opportunities for us to showcase our latest products and digital solutions, engage with a wider audience and create awareness about the technologies we are bringing to the Indian market Tadafumi Shintani: We place strong importance on understanding the specific operational challenges and requirements of our customers and adapting our technologies to address their actual needs. We work closely with customers to understand how our technologies can be applied to their existing plant systems and operating practices. This also allows us to gather feedback from actual applications and continuously improve our technologies and solutions.
By demonstrating the practical value of these technologies through actual applications and customer discussions, we can build confidence in the solutions and encourage wider adoption. We believe this process of adapting technology to local needs and continuously improving it based on customer feedback is important for delivering solutions that provide long-term value to the Indian power sector.
"We see significant opportunities in India not only in our core steam turbine business but also in digital technologies and solutions that can support the evolving power sector "
Q5: How important is the Indian market for Toshiba in the global landscape? How do you plan to increase your market share, and what is your current market share?
A: Daisuke Murata: India is one of our key strategic markets globally, alongside the US, particularly as demand for reliable power continues to grow with the rapid expansion of data centers. We see significant opportunities in India not only in our core steam turbine business but also in digital technologies and solutions that can support the evolving power sector.
To strengthen our position in the Indian market, we are taking a collaborative approach by bringing together the capabilities of our group companies in India, the US and Japan. By combining our global technologies and expertise with our strong understanding of the Indian market and customer needs, we aim to develop and provide solutions that create greater value for our customers and expand our presence in India.
