The California Energy Commission (CEC), the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) have signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) to strengthen collaboration on clean energy technologies, renewable energy integration, grid modernisation and long-duration energy storage. The agreement, signed on June 25, 2026, establishes a framework for knowledge sharing and technical cooperation between California and Rajasthan as both regions accelerate their energy transition.
The strategic partnership, facilitated by the India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF), focuses on promoting collaboration in areas such as renewable energy integration, grid resilience, energy efficiency, transportation electrification, long-duration energy storage, renewable energy forecasting, grid planning and other emerging clean energy technologies.
The virtual signing ceremony was attended by Heeralal Nagar, Rajasthan’s Minister of Energy; Siva Gunda, Vice Chair of the California Energy Commission; John Reynolds, President of the California Public Utilities Commission; Hemant Kumar Jain, Member of the Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission; and Reji Kumar Pillai, President of the India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF) and Chairman of the Global Smart Energy Federation (GSEF), along with senior officials from the participating organisations.
The collaboration aims to facilitate policy dialogue, technical exchanges and the sharing of global best practices to support the development of cleaner, more resilient and efficient power systems. It is expected to help both regions address common challenges associated with integrating large-scale renewable energy into the grid while maintaining reliability and affordability.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajasthan Energy Minister Heeralal Nagar said the state has emerged as one of India’s leading clean energy hubs, supported by abundant solar and wind resources. He noted that Rajasthan is expanding battery energy storage systems, deploying smart meters and strengthening its electricity network to ensure reliable delivery of clean power.
He added that California’s experience in renewable energy integration and grid management offers valuable learning opportunities, while the partnership will enable both sides to exchange knowledge on solar and wind power, battery storage, electric vehicles and grid reliability.
CEC Vice Chair Siva Gunda said the agreement demonstrates how subnational partnerships can accelerate the global clean energy transition through practical cooperation. He noted that the MoI establishes a strong platform for sharing technical expertise in renewable energy integration, energy forecasting, transportation electrification, grid reliability and long-duration energy storage.
CPUC President John Reynolds said California and Rajasthan are addressing similar challenges as they transition towards cleaner, more reliable and affordable energy systems. He said the collaboration would strengthen regulatory cooperation and enable both organisations to learn from each other’s experiences in managing evolving power systems.
Highlighting Rajasthan’s renewable energy progress, Reji Kumar Pillai, President of ISGF, said the state currently operates one of the world’s most complex electricity grids with nearly 80% renewable energy. Of Rajasthan’s 62 GW installed power capacity, around 42 GW comes from solar energy and 6 GW from wind power.
He noted that managing such a high share of variable renewable energy requires advanced digital technologies, modern grid infrastructure and supportive regulatory frameworks. According to Pillai, the collaboration between California and Rajasthan could serve as an ideal platform for testing new technologies and policy approaches for clean energy integration.
Following the signing ceremony, the California Energy Commission acknowledged ISGF’s role in facilitating the partnership and appreciated the support of the India Energy and Climate Center at UC Berkeley and the UC Davis India Center for Energy and Climate in advancing the initiative.
ISGF said it will continue promoting international partnerships to accelerate the deployment of smart grids, renewable energy, electric mobility and advanced energy technologies in India. The latest agreement further strengthens global cooperation in support of India’s clean energy transition while advancing innovation in energy storage, grid modernisation and sustainable power systems
ISGF is a public private partnership initiative of Govt. of India with the mandate of accelerating smart grid deployments across the country. With 170+ members comprising of ministries, utilities, technology providers, academia and research, ISGF has evolved as a Think-Tank of global repute on Smart Energy and Smart Cities. Mandate of ISGF is to accelerate energy transition through clean energy, electric grid modernization and electric mobility; work with national and international agencies in standards development and help utilities, regulators and the industry in technology selection, training and capacity building.
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