Tata Elxsi’s Siddineni Explains How IoT and AI are Transforming Battery Energy Storage Systems

Through the application of AI and ML models, Tata Elxsi is transforming battery energy storage management by enabling predictive and prescriptive maintenance, said Pandarinath Siddineni, Domain Head, Systems & Software, Tata Elxsi, in an interview with Abha Rustagi, Associate Editor, Energetica India.

Q. Tata Elxsi has been integrating digital technologies across energy systems. To begin with, how do you see IoT and AI reshaping the global battery energy storage market, and where does India stand in this transformation?

Ans. IoT and AI are fundamentally reforming the global battery energy storage market by enabling actual monitoring, predictive maintenance, intelligent decision-making and Lifecyle transparency for energy utilisation. These technologies are critical because they enhance efficiency, extend battery life, ensure profitable energy usage and make energy storage central to renewable energy integration worldwide. Globally, the BESS market is projected to reach nearly USD 150 billion by 2030, with utilities, developers, and policymakers driving rapid adoption. India, in particular, is ambitiously targeting close to 400 GW of storage capacity by 2031. This scale of ambition not only positions the country as a leader in the global energy transition but also reflects its commitment to integrating renewables, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and strengthening energy security. Such a vast storage capacity will be vital to balancing variable sources like solar and wind, ensuring grid stability, and supporting India’s long-term sustainability and net-zero goals. Tata Elxsi plays a key role by supporting national initiatives such as Battery Aadhaar (a digital passport for batteries) while also offering AI-powered lifecycle management solutions. Through these innovations, Tata Elxsi not only enables compliance and sustainability but also advances circular energy goals, aligning India’s progress with the global shift towards cleaner and smarter energy ecosystems.

Q. How does Tata Elxsi leverage real-time data flows and interoperable IoT control systems to make energy storage solutions more intelligent and adaptive?

Ans. Tata Elxsi, through its MOBIUS+ platform, leverages real-time data and interoperable IoT systems to monitor batteries across their entire lifecycle from raw material sourcing and operation to recycling and end-of-life. This matters because adaptive, data-driven control enables smarter energy storage solutions, ensuring both compliance and operational efficiency. The platform serves multiple stakeholders, including OEMs, recyclers, and regulators and provides role-based dashboards for transparency and accountability. It integrates block chain-based traceability and automates compliance reporting, aligning initially with EU battery standards while remaining flexible for emerging Indian frameworks. By supporting diverse battery types and geographies, MOBIUS+ ensures interoperability across the ecosystem. Through remote monitoring, adaptive control, and AI-driven decision-making, Tata Elxsi makes energy storage solutions more intelligent, scalable, and future-ready. This approach directly supports the integration of renewable energy while offering utilities and developers the reliability, efficiency, and compliance assurance needed for global adoption.

Q. How are you applying AI/ML models to anticipate failures, extend battery life, and reduce downtime?

Ans. Through the application of AI and ML models, Tata Elxsi is transforming battery energy storage management by enabling predictive and prescriptive maintenance that anticipates failures before they happen. This is critical for reducing downtime, optimising charging cycles, and extending battery life and outcomes that directly improve system reliability and cost efficiency. Utilities, manufacturers, and developers benefit from these capabilities as they help reduce operational risks and enhance energy availability. The approach is applied globally and is adaptable across various battery chemistries and environments. Tata Elxsi’s MLOps platform “AIGlass” helps to manage and maintain the ML & AI models deployed on the BESS edge hardware.

Q. How do your diagnostic tools improve asset performance and efficiency for large-scale battery energy storage projects?

Ans. By supporting continuous lifecycle management, Tata Elxsi’s diagnostic tools play a crucial role in enhancing asset performance and efficiency across large-scale battery energy storage projects. What sets these tools apart is their ability to remotely monitor, diagnose, and optimise systems in real-time. This matters because utilities and developers operating at scale require precise insights to minimise downtime and maximise return on investment. The tools are designed for global applicability, supporting deployments across geographies from the US and Europe to Asia and Africa, ensuring consistency and scalability. Through unified naming conventions and standardised frameworks, Tata Elxsi enables easy traceability, pinpointing issues down to a specific site, cabinet, or battery. A 24/7 command center provides remote supervision, firmware updates, and efficiency monitoring. By doing so, Tata Elxsi facilitates field engineers with actionable insights and assures that every deployment operates at peak efficiency, making energy storage reliable, scalable, and cost-effective.

Q. With grid stability becoming critical in renewables integration, how does Tata Elxsi’s BESS technology help utilities and developers optimise for both reliability and cost efficiency?

Ans. As renewable penetration increases, grid stability becomes a critical challenge, and Tata Elxsi’s BESS technologies are designed to help utilities and developers optimise both reliability and cost efficiency. The company is actively working with customers to develop utility-scale storage solutions ranging from a few megawatts to hundreds of megawatts. This is especially important in India, where the ecosystem is still developing and many solutions are currently imported, but local capabilities are fast emerging. Tata Elxsi supports this transition by building the full ecosystem, from power electronics and cabinets to module, rack, and container-level solutions. By designing solutions from the ground up, Tata Elxsi confirms that they are both cost-effective and suited to Indian market needs while meeting global benchmarks. Through intelligent control, load balancing, and system-level optimisation, Tata Elxsi enables utilities to maintain grid stability, improve reliability, and unlock long-term cost advantages in renewable integration.

Q. What challenges do you see in the adoption of AI- and IoT-enabled BESS in India, such as cost, standardisation, or regulatory frameworks, and how do you plan to overcome them?

Ans. In India, the adoption of AI- and IoT-enabled BESS is challenged by factors such as high upfront costs, evolving regulatory frameworks, and the lack of standardised protocols. While IoT and AI increase upfront investment, their long-term ROI is clear, as large-scale deployments become unmanageable without them. The thought process in India is changing; with growing recognition of the value these technologies bring in reducing downtime and improving efficiency. Regulatory clarity is another key factor, as the absence of established standards slows adoption; once frameworks are defined, adoption will accelerate. Tata Elxsi addresses these challenges by collaborating with leading enablers like NVIDIA and AWS to deliver both edge and cloud-based AI solutions, ensuring scalability and adaptability. By building solutions that align with global best practices while tailoring them to Indian requirements, Tata Elxsi is helping the ecosystem overcome barriers, paving the way for wider adoption of intelligent, connected energy storage.