CII Energy Efficiency Summit 2026 Focuses on Net Zero Transition
Hyderabad, September 17, 2026: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) convened policymakers, industry executives, and sustainability experts at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre for the inaugural day of the 25th Energy Efficiency Summit 2026. Organized by the CII – Green Business Centre under the theme of accelerating the transition to a Net Zero economy through energy efficiency and sustainable practices, the event also hosted the 22nd Power Plant Summit and the 20th PaperTech 2026, CII said in a press release.
Inaugurating the event, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Telangana, highlighted the strategic value of energy conservation. He said, “Energy efficiency is not merely an environmental obligation; it is an economic competitiveness strategy. For a rapidly growing state like Telangana, the answer is not to slow down economic activity, but to make every unit of energy support more economic activity. The cheapest unit of electricity is often the unit we do not need to consume. Energy efficiency is, in many ways, a power plant that requires no new land, no coal mine and no new transmission line.”
Addressing the audience, Tejpreet Singh Chopra, Chairman, Energy Efficiency Summit 2026 and Founder & CEO, BLP-Industry.AI, stressed digital intervention. He said, “Energy efficiency is often called the ‘first fuel.’ It brings down demand, cuts costs, and creates room for cleaner sources of power to grow faster. I do believe AI and digital tools are becoming a catalyst for everything this Summit stands for.”
Focusing on the power sector, Ajay Sharma, Chairman, Power Plant Summit 2026 & Executive Director (Operation Services), National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd., stated that thermal generation must adapt alongside renewables. He said, “India’s energy transition cannot be measured only by how many megawatts of capacity we add; it must also be measured by how efficiently we operate, how effectively we integrate renewable energy and how much value we create from every megawatt of capacity.”
From the manufacturing perspective, Ganesh Bhadti, Chairman, PaperTech 2026 and Executive Director (Operations and Projects), Seshasayee Paper & Boards Limited, noted, “Energy efficiency and decarbonisation are the two wings that will determine the future and sustainability of industry.”
The inaugural proceedings included the release of three benchmark reports alongside the commencement of the 27th CII National Award for Excellence in Energy Management. Attendance exceeded 1,600 delegates, featuring 60 speakers and 75 technology exhibitors.
