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Power sector seems to have seen hectic activity over the last three years - in terms of generation, transmission and distribution of power and efforts to create and bolster demand. However, with every addition of a megawatt in power generating capacity the problems of the sector got accentuated.

Since being identified as a potential response to India's crucial power challenges since the 1990s, wind energy has undergone a major shift in India, and even after a good 25 years, its full potential is yet to be realised.

The wind energy sector has progressed significantly over the past decade. The installed capacity of the country has doubled in the last five years and reached a whopping 32,508 MW which is almost ~56 per cent of our installed renewable energy base.

In terms of impact of GST on the power sector, it is a mixed bag with the effect being positive for some and marginally negative for others. The reduction in tax rate on domestic coal will provide a relief to coal based power plants in the cost of power generation even after accounting for an increase in capital cost (due to higher tax rates in boiler, turbine, generator segment).

The Indian cable industry is growing in double digits, year-on-year, i.e., 10-18 per cent. This growth is as a result of rapid industrialisation and automation. Cable and connection technology is the backbone of this industrialisation.

The continuous awareness drive run by the government through twitter, town halls etc., has been truly helpful in the first filing of monthly returns which began in August.

Finally, Goods and Services Tax (GST) has arrived on July 1, 2017, and the first batch of filing of monthly returns is underway in August 2017. Like any other changeover, GST is also facing its initial pangs.

The industry, which today is worth more than Rs.36,000 crore, is expected will grow to Rs.64,000 crore by 2020. This is primarily because of huge government and private investment planned in segments such as smart cities, modernisation of railways, highways, Digital India campaign, and Power for All by 2022.

With increase in share of renewables in the distribution system, it has become indispensable to incorporate large scale integration of energy storage, which gives flexibility to quickly ramp up supply in case the need arises.