With over 28 years of experience in the energy sector, Shirish has been at the forefront of the industry’s digital transformation and sustainability efforts. As the Global Head of Domain and Consulting at Wipro, Shirish plays a pivotal role in driving decarbonization, integrating renewable energy, and advancing technological innovations like smart grids and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
In this interview, Shirish shares his career journey, insights into utilities’ current challenges, and how advanced technologies are reshaping the sector. From digital transformation to integrating cloud-based solutions, Shirish offers expertise and perspective on the future of energy. Keep reading to learn from his years of experience!
Matt Chester: Thanks as always for joining our Expert Network, the exclusive “club” of members who share deep insights, answer questions, and get more involved in elevating the Energy Central Community. For those who haven’t yet caught your great content throughout Energy Central, I’d love you to share a bit about your background, how you got involved in this industry, and your role with Wipro.
Shirish Patil: Thank you for inviting me to join the Expert Network. I’ve been involved in the energy sector for 28-plus years, primarily focusing on energy transition, decarbonization of power, water and gas utilities, and digital transformation. I started in the industry due to my strong interest in power and renewable energy and the potential for innovative technologies to reshape how we produce, distribute, and consume energy. At Wipro, I work as Head of Consulting for Utilities, ECO, Airports, and GIS, where I focus on digital tech, smart grids, and renewable integration. My role allows me to collaborate with clients to drive sustainable energy solutions, implement cutting-edge technologies, and optimize business operations within the sector. I look forward to contributing to the Energy Central Community and engaging with fellow experts!
Matt Chester: In your position at Wipro, what are the most pressing challenges that utilities face in their digital transformation journeys today?
SP: I see several pressing challenges utilities face in their digital transformation journeys:
- Aging Infrastructure. Many utilities work with legacy systems that need significant modernization. Transitioning from these outdated technologies while maintaining service continuity is a major hurdle.
- Data Management and Integration. Utilities generate massive amounts of data, but effectively capturing, integrating, and analyzing this data across multiple systems (e.g., smart meters, IoT devices, etc.) to drive decision-making remains challenging.
- Energy Transition. Utilities face a significant challenge in adapting to the rapidly advancing demands of the energy transition while ensuring the security and reliability of supply.
- Cybersecurity Risks. With increased digitalization comes greater vulnerability to cyberattacks. Utilities must prioritize security as they adopt digital solutions, given the critical nature of their services.
- Regulatory Compliance. Navigating complex and evolving regulations, particularly around decarbonization and sustainability, requires ongoing digital innovation while ensuring compliance.
- Workforce Transformation. As utilities embrace new technologies, there’s a need to upskill or reskill the workforce to manage and operate within a digital-first environment.
- Sustainability and Decarbonization. Balancing the adoption of renewable energy sources with grid reliability and achieving carbon-neutral goals demands advanced technologies and strategic investments.
Addressing these challenges requires a mix of technological innovation, strong leadership, and a customer-centric approach.
MC: Energy transition is a key focus in your role. How do you see renewable energy systems integrating with traditional utility operations, and what role does technology like GIS play in enabling that transition?
SP: Energy transition is indeed a key focus in my role, and integrating renewable energy systems with traditional utility operations is crucial to its success. Here’s how I see it unfolding:
- Seamless Integration of Renewables. As utilities incorporate more renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower, maintaining grid stability and reliability becomes critical. This requires a hybrid approach where traditional generation systems work in tandem with renewable assets. Advanced energy management systems and smart grids play a vital role in managing the variability of renewable generation while ensuring a reliable supply.
- Decentralization of Energy Systems. The rise of distributed energy resources (DER) like rooftop solar and energy storage is decentralizing the grid, shifting it from a one-way power flow to a more dynamic, bidirectional system. This calls for more sophisticated grid management tools and digital infrastructure that can handle the complexity of multiple energy sources while keeping operations efficient.
- GIS in Energy Transition. GIS is pivotal in this integration. It helps utilities plan and optimize the placement of renewable energy assets, manage grid infrastructure, and monitor environmental impacts. By providing real-time spatial data and analysis, GIS enables better decision-making for grid upgrades, renewable energy site selection, and resource management.
- Improved Grid Resilience. Technology like GIS also aids in improving the resilience of the grid by mapping areas prone to disruptions (such as extreme weather events) and helping utilities deploy solutions more effectively. It supports predictive maintenance by identifying weak points in infrastructure and allows utilities to optimize asset management.
Overall, the integration of renewable energy systems with traditional operations hinges on advanced technologies like GIS, smart grids, and digital twins, enabling utilities to meet energy transition goals while ensuring security, reliability, and sustainability.
MC: Given your deep expertise in SaaS and technology-driven recovery programs, how is cloud-based technology changing the utilities landscape and customer success in this space?
SP: Cloud-based energy technology is fundamentally transforming the utilities landscape, particularly when it comes to customer success and operational efficiency. Here’s how:
- Scalability and Flexibility. Cloud-based platforms allow utilities to scale their operations more easily. They can quickly adopt new solutions, integrate advanced technologies, and manage fluctuating demand without the limitations of traditional on-premise systems. This flexibility is crucial in adapting to evolving market conditions and customer needs.
- Improved Customer Experience. SaaS solutions enhance customer success by enabling personalized, real-time engagement. Cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) platforms provide utilities with valuable insights into customer behavior, enabling them to offer tailored services, such as dynamic pricing, usage alerts, and energy-saving recommendations. This results in better customer satisfaction and engagement.
- Enhanced Data Management and Analytics. The cloud facilitates better data collection, storage, and analysis. Utilities can now aggregate data from smart meters, IoT devices, and sensors across their infrastructure. Cloud-based analytics tools provide actionable insights, helping utilities optimize grid operations, reduce downtime, and forecast energy demand more accurately.
- Faster Recovery and Resilience. Cloud-based systems support more robust disaster recovery programs. Utilities can recover critical systems and data quickly in the event of a failure, improving resilience and minimizing service disruptions. SaaS platforms also support predictive maintenance, helping utilities prevent outages before they occur.
- Cost Efficiency. By moving to the cloud, utilities reduce the need for expensive hardware, physical storage, and maintenance, allowing them to allocate resources more effectively. Cloud-based technology offers a pay-as-you-go model, making it more cost-efficient and aligning expenses with actual usage.
- Support for Digital Transformation. Cloud platforms are the backbone of digital transformation in utilities. They enable the adoption of new technologies, such as AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics, all of which contribute to more efficient energy production, distribution, and consumption.
Cloud-based technology drives greater agility, efficiency, and customer-centricity in utilities, positioning them to succeed in a rapidly changing energy landscape.
MC: You’re an experienced veteran of the Energy Central Community, but we always like to check in with our experts to learn about what they’re getting out of the community. What do you hope to get from interacting with the Energy Central community? And what insights and lessons do you hope to share with your peers on the platform?
SP: Interacting with the Energy Central community offers a great opportunity to contribute and learn from a diverse group of industry experts. Here’s what I hope to gain and share:
What I Hope to Get:
- Knowledge Exchange. I’m eager to learn about the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in the energy sector from fellow members. Whether it’s new technologies, regulatory developments, or fresh perspectives on the energy transition, I’m keen to stay at the forefront of industry knowledge.
- Collaborative Problem-Solving. The Energy Central community brings together a wealth of expertise. I hope to collaborate with other professionals to tackle shared challenges, particularly around sustainability, digital transformation, and the integration of renewable energy systems.
- Networking Opportunities. Building relationships with peers in the industry is important to me. I’m excited to engage in discussions, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations that could drive innovation in the utilities sector.
Insights I Hope to Share:
- Digital Transformation Best Practices. Having led several technology-driven initiatives, I hope to share insights on how utilities can leverage digital transformation to optimize operations, enhance customer experiences, and meet sustainability goals.
- Energy Transition Strategies. Focusing on renewable integration and decarbonization, I’d like to offer practical strategies for utilities transitioning to cleaner energy sources while maintaining grid stability and efficiency.
- Technology-Driven Resilience. Sharing lessons from recovery programs and SaaS implementations, I hope to help utilities strengthen their infrastructure, improve disaster recovery, and enhance service reliability through technology.
- Future of Utilities. I aim to provide thought leadership on the evolving role of utilities in a decentralized energy market, with a focus on customer empowerment, energy-as-a-service models, and sustainability.
Engaging with the Energy Central community will be an enriching experience, and I look forward to contributing to the collective knowledge while learning from the broader network of industry professionals.
MC: What final topics do you think will drive the power sector for the next year that Energy Central readers should know and look to you for insights on?
SP: The role of innovation and emerging technologies in shaping the future of utilities. We’ve touched on digital transformation, cloud technology, and renewable energy, but innovation in areas like AI, blockchain, and edge computing is also poised to impact the sector significantly.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning. AI can optimize grid management, enhance predictive maintenance, and improve energy efficiency by analyzing massive datasets from smart meters and IoT devices. Machine learning algorithms can forecast demand more accurately and even identify potential outages before they happen, driving proactive grid management.
- Blockchain for Energy Trading. Blockchain is emerging as a game-changer for peer-to-peer energy trading and decentralized energy markets. It enables secure, transparent transactions, allowing consumers to trade excess energy directly, which could redefine how we think about energy distribution and consumption.
- Edge Computing. As utilities incorporate more IoT devices and sensors, edge computing becomes essential for processing data closer to its source. This can reduce latency, enable real-time decision-making, and improve system responsiveness, particularly in managing distributed energy resources like solar panels and batteries.
- Sustainability and Circular Economy Models. An important area to explore is the intersection of digital transformation with sustainability, particularly around the circular economy. For example, how utilities can use digital tools to recycle materials, optimize resource use, and create a more sustainable operational model.
Addressing these emerging technologies could provide utilities with a competitive edge in their digital transformation and help accelerate the energy transition.
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Thanks to Shirish for joining me for this interview and providing a wealth of insights and expertise to the Energy Central Community. You can trust that Shirish will be available for you to reach out and connect and ask questions as an Energy Central member, so be sure to make him feel welcome when you see him across the platform.
Other expert interviews in this series can be read here, and if you are interested in becoming an expert, you can reach out to me or apply here.