Energy efficiency key to industrial competitiveness in net-zero transition: Telangana Dy CM Bhatti
Hyderabad, Sept 16 (TNT): Energy efficiency will be critical to strengthening industrial competitiveness and supporting India’s transition towards a net-zero economy, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said on Wednesday.
Addressing the inaugural session of the 25th CII Energy Efficiency Summit 2026 here, Bhatti said energy efficiency should be viewed not merely as an environmental requirement but as an economic 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,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said every megawatt of electricity demand avoided through efficient motors, improved cooling systems, intelligent buildings, smart industrial processes and digital energy management could reduce pressure on the power system while lowering operating costs and emissions.
The summit, organised by the CII-Green Business Centre, is being held under the theme “Accelerating the transition to a Net Zero economy through energy efficiency, clean technologies, and sustainable practices”.
The inaugural day also featured the 22nd Power Plant Summit and 20th PaperTech 2026.
Tejpreet Singh Chopra, Chairman, Energy Efficiency Summit 2026 and Founder and CEO of BLP-Industry.AI, said artificial intelligence and digital tools were emerging as catalysts for identifying and implementing energy-efficiency measures and could help scale continuous monitoring across industrial assets.
Ajay Sharma, Chairman, Power Plant Summit 2026 and Executive Director (Operation Services), NTPC Ltd, said India’s energy transition should focus not only on adding generation capacity but also on improving operational efficiency, integrating renewable energy and maximising value from existing capacity.
He said thermal power could not be immediately phased out and would need to become more efficient, flexible and responsive while renewable energy and storage capacity are expanded.
The summit also saw the release of three publications, including the Energy Efficiency Imperative: Lessons from the Past, Leadership for the Future, the CII Thermal Power Plant Benchmarking Report 2026 and the Best Practice Manual in Paper Sector – Volume 14.
The event is hosting more than 1,600 policymakers, industry leaders, technology providers, researchers, academia, energy professionals and startups, with over 60 national and international speakers.
An exposition featuring more than 75 technologies and solutions is also being held.
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