25th CII Energy Efficiency Summit: AI, Electrification and Innovation Drive India’s Next Energy-Efficiency Leap – Indian PSU
Energy efficiency is emerging as a strategic driver of India’s economic growth and Net Zero transition, with artificial intelligence, electrification, clean technologies and digitalisation set to play a growing role in transforming industrial energy use.
This was the central message of the 25th CII Energy Efficiency Summit 2026, which concluded in Hyderabad under the theme “Accelerating the transition to a Net Zero economy through energy efficiency, clean technologies, and sustainable practices.”
The three-day Summit brought together government stakeholders, industry leaders, policymakers, technology providers, cleantech startups, academia, researchers and sustainability experts to examine the next phase of India’s energy transition.
Deliberations highlighted that energy efficiency can no longer be viewed merely as a cost-saving or compliance measure. It is increasingly being seen as a strategic tool to improve industrial competitiveness, reduce resource consumption, accelerate decarbonisation and strengthen economic resilience.
The discussions underscored the need to integrate energy efficiency with renewable energy, electrification, clean technologies, digital intelligence, resource efficiency and innovative financing.
315 Recognitions at National Energy Management Awards
The Summit hosted the 27th CII National Award for Excellence in Energy Management 2026, recognising organisations and professionals for leadership, innovation and achievements in energy efficiency.
The awards recorded 315 recognitions, with 263 industries across more than 15 sectors sharing best practices, innovative technologies and approaches to improving energy performance.
Recognition was conferred across categories including National Energy Leader, Excellent and Energy Efficient Units, Most Innovative Project and Useful Presentation, and Young and Emerging Leaders in Energy Efficiency.
Sectoral Platforms Push Energy Transition Agenda
Several parallel events and sector-specific platforms broadened the Summit’s focus.
The 22nd CII Power Plant Summit 2026 examined ways to improve thermal power plant efficiency, flexibility, sustainability and digitalisation. The CII Thermal Power Plant Benchmarking Report 2026 was released during the Summit, providing benchmarks across thermal power plants and identifying performance gaps, best practices and opportunities to improve efficiency, emissions and resource utilisation.
The 20th CII PaperTech 2026 addressed technology, innovation, sustainability and operational excellence in the pulp and paper sector. The Best Practice Manual in Paper Sector – Volume 14 was also released, featuring 11 case studies from leading paper manufacturers and technology providers in India and five other countries.
The India Green Steel Coalition examined pathways for scaling green steel, strengthening demand and supporting the transition towards lower-carbon steel production. Discussions on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) focused on its implications for Indian industry and exports and the wider transition towards low-carbon production.
Digitalisation and AI emerged as important enablers of industrial energy efficiency, with discussions examining how data-driven technologies can improve energy management and industrial performance.
The Summit also highlighted industrial electrification as an important pathway for reducing dependence on fossil fuels and supporting industrial decarbonisation.
Heat Pumps, AI and Cleantech Take Centre Stage
The CII Heat Pump Alliance brought together industry and ecosystem stakeholders to discuss the scaling of industrial heat-pump adoption.
The India Heat Pump Atlas was launched during the Summit. The Atlas and its web-based tool draw on installation records contributed by 13 technology partners, covering more than 2,200 installations across industrial and commercial applications and representing around 288 MW of thermal capacity.
The Industry-Academia Bridge sought to strengthen collaboration between researchers and industry through research partnerships, technology pilots and solutions to industrial challenges.
The inaugural CII-GEC Cleantech Nexus 2026 brought startups, industry, investors and technology stakeholders together to explore how sustainable innovations can move from pilot projects to commercial scale.
A separate platform on greening MSMEs examined ways to accelerate resource-efficient and cleaner production practices among smaller enterprises while improving competitiveness and reducing energy and environmental impacts.
MSME Marketplace, Heat Pump Atlas and Innovation Accelerator Launched
The Summit also saw the launch of the MSME Marketplace and India Heat Pump Atlas, along with the CII-JK Cement Industrial Innovation Accelerator, aimed at strengthening industry collaboration and accelerating technology adoption and deployment.
Another key knowledge resource released at the Summit was The Energy Efficiency Imperative: Lessons from the Past, Leadership for the Future.
The publication brings together insights from more than 30 policymakers, industry leaders, regulators and institution-builders, documenting India’s energy-efficiency journey, lessons from the past and priorities for the future.
2,500+ Stakeholders Participate
More than 2,500 stakeholders participated in the Summit, with 60+ national and international speakers contributing to the deliberations.
An accompanying exposition showcased 75+ innovative technologies and solutions spanning energy efficiency, clean technology and sustainable industrial growth.
The three-day discussions pointed towards a more integrated approach to India’s energy-efficiency agenda — combining proven technologies with electrification, AI, digital tools, industrial productivity, stronger industry-academia partnerships and innovative financing.
The emerging challenge is now to move from individual efficiency interventions to large-scale deployment, enabling measurable improvements in energy consumption, industrial competitiveness and progress towards India’s Net Zero objectives.
