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25th Energy Efficiency Summit brings industry, policymakers and technology providers together to accelerate India’s transition towards a Net Zero economy

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) opened the 25th Energy Efficiency Summit 2026 at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC), bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, technology providers, researchers and sustainability experts to discuss the role of energy efficiency and clean technologies in India’s transition towards a Net Zero economy.

Organised by the CII Green Business Centre, the summit is being held under the theme “Accelerating the transition to a Net Zero economy through energy efficiency, clean technologies, and sustainable practices.”

Energy Efficiency at the Centre of Industrial Competitiveness

The inaugural day focused on how energy efficiency can simultaneously support decarbonisation, energy security and industrial competitiveness.

Shri Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Telangana, highlighted the economic importance of using energy more efficiently. He emphasised that reducing energy demand through efficient motors, cooling systems, intelligent buildings, smart industrial processes and digital energy management can reduce pressure on the power system while lowering operating costs and emissions.

He also called for greater measurement of energy performance and wider deployment of proven technologies across industries.

AI and Digitalisation Accelerate Efficiency

Mr. Tejpreet Singh Chopra, Chairman, Energy Efficiency Summit 2026 and Founder & CEO, BLP-Industry.AI, highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence and digital tools in identifying and acting on energy-efficiency opportunities.

He described energy efficiency as the “first fuel” and noted that AI-enabled systems can help organisations move from periodic energy audits towards continuous monitoring of industrial assets.

The integration of AI, sensors, analytics and digital energy-management platforms is increasingly creating opportunities for industries to identify inefficiencies in real time and optimise operations.

Thermal Power Faces a Changing Energy Landscape

The inaugural day also featured the 22nd Power Plant Summit 2026, which examined the evolving role of thermal power in India's energy transition.

Mr. Ajay Sharma, Chairman, Power Plant Summit 2026 and Executive Director (Operation Services), National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd., highlighted the need to evaluate the energy transition not only through additional generation capacity but also through efficiency, renewable integration and improved utilisation of existing assets.

He noted that thermal power will continue to have a role during the transition, with greater emphasis on efficiency, flexibility and responsiveness alongside renewable energy and energy storage.

Paper Industry Focuses on Efficiency and Decarbonisation

The 20th PaperTech 2026 brought the pulp and paper industry into the broader sustainability discussion, with a focus on technology, innovation, resource efficiency and operational performance.

Mr. Ganesh Bhadti, Chairman, PaperTech 2026 and Executive Director (Operations and Projects), Seshasayee Paper & Boards Limited, highlighted energy efficiency and decarbonisation as important elements of the industry's long-term sustainability.

The sessions examined opportunities for the Indian paper sector to strengthen its performance through improved energy and resource utilisation while building on the sector’s characteristics of renewability, recyclability and biodegradability.

Three Publications Released

The inaugural session also saw the release of three publications focused on energy and resource efficiency:

• The Energy Efficiency Imperative: Lessons from the Past, Leadership for the Future – examining lessons and future priorities in India’s energy-efficiency journey.
• CII Thermal Power Plant Benchmarking Report 2026 – establishing performance benchmarks and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and resource utilisation.
• Best Practice Manual in Paper Sector – Volume 14 – presenting 11 replicable energy and resource-efficiency practices from Indian and international paper-sector organisations.

Recognising Excellence in Energy Management

The event also marked the first day of the 27th CII National Award for Excellence in Energy Management. A total of 263 industries across more than 15 sectors are participating by presenting energy-efficiency practices, innovative technologies and approaches to energy management.

The awards programme continues CII’s effort to identify and promote industrial practices that can contribute to improved energy performance.

Industry Participation and Technology Showcase

The summit brought together more than 1,600 policymakers, senior industry leaders, technology providers, researchers, academics, energy professionals, startups and other stakeholders. More than 60 national and international speakers participated in discussions across the programme.

The event also featured an exhibition showcasing 75+ technologies and solutions covering energy efficiency, clean technologies and sustainable industrial practices.

Scaling Technology for India’s Net Zero Transition

Discussions at the opening day highlighted the need for India’s Net Zero transition to combine energy efficiency, operational excellence, modernisation, AI-enabled decision-making, renewable energy, resource conservation and circularity.

The summit emphasised collaboration between industry, technology providers, policymakers and research institutions to translate sustainability objectives into practical and scalable solutions that can strengthen industrial competitiveness while improving energy and environmental performance.