Jaipur. The 7th edition of the Rajasthan Energy Summit 2026, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Rajasthan, was held in Jaipur with the theme “Accelerating the Next Phase of Energy Transition.” The summit brought together government officials, industry leaders and energy experts to discuss renewable energy, energy security, storage, digital technologies and the development of a future-ready energy ecosystem.
Addressing the summit as the chief guest, Rajasthan Chief Secretary V. Srinivas said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Rajasthan has emerged as one of India's leading energy states. He said the state government is focusing on building a self-reliant and future-ready energy ecosystem in line with the vision of “Viksit Rajasthan @2047.”
He said the state's strategy is not limited to increasing power generation capacity but also focuses equally on strengthening transmission, distribution, energy storage and the power grid. Rajasthan has also become the first state in the country to sign a formal action framework to accelerate its transition towards clean energy. The state currently has more than 42 GW of installed solar power capacity, the highest among all states in India, while its total clean energy capacity has reached nearly 48 GW, he said.
The Chief Secretary said the state's energy policy views electricity not merely as infrastructure but as a key driver of agricultural development, rural livelihoods, industrial growth and employment generation. He highlighted Rajasthan's leading role in the implementation of the PM-KUSUM scheme, saying it is helping transform farmers from “Annadatas” (food providers) into “Urjadata” (energy providers) by enabling them to generate electricity, supply surplus power to the grid and earn additional income.
Addressing the summit, Steve Hickling, Deputy High Commissioner, British High Commission, said the India-UK Vision 2035 recognises the energy sector as an important pillar of bilateral cooperation. He said both countries share a vision of developing energy systems that are resilient, affordable and low-carbon while promoting energy security and economic growth.
Hickling said India's rapid progress in solar and wind energy, green hydrogen and smart and resilient infrastructure offers significant opportunities for cooperation in innovation, technology, finance and clean energy. He added that the challenge is not only to generate clean energy but also to integrate it into power systems in a reliable, affordable and accessible manner.
He further said that the signing of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in 2025 marked the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relations. According to him, the agreement provides a broader economic framework to deepen cooperation in renewable energy, green manufacturing, infrastructure, technology and investment.
Dr. Rohit Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director, Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited, said India has become the world's third-largest country in terms of installed renewable energy capacity, driven largely by strong private-sector participation in manufacturing and deployment. He said nearly 95 per cent of renewable energy capacity is in the private sector and Rajasthan is at the forefront, leading in solar power capacity and contributing significantly to the country's overall energy mix.
Puneet Bhatla, Managing Director, GE Power India Limited, and Business Leader – Steam Power Services, India, GE Vernova, said India is the world's third-largest energy consumer and third-largest greenhouse gas emitter, reflecting the scale of its rapidly growing economy and energy demand. He stressed the need for rapid modernisation, clear efficiency benchmarks and greater access to green finance to strengthen the energy transition while maintaining grid stability and meeting future energy requirements.
Earlier, Rajneesh Bhandari, Chairman, CII Rajasthan, and Managing Director, NeuroEquilibrium Diagnostic Systems Limited, delivered the welcome address and highlighted the changing energy landscape in India. He said the growing share of non-fossil energy is creating new opportunities in energy storage, data-driven efficiency and energy innovation.
Suket Singhal, Vice Chairman, CII Rajasthan, and Group CEO, Secure Meters Limited, emphasised the need to build robust energy infrastructure to meet the country's energy requirements over the next seven to ten years. He said the focus is shifting from “Made in India” to “Made by India,” adding that Rajasthan is also moving beyond “Made in Rajasthan” towards “Made by Rajasthan” to establish a stronger global identity.
The concluding address was delivered by Shivam Talwar, Convenor, CII Rajasthan Panel on Energy and Water, and Managing Director, Danish Power Limited. CII Rajasthan Senior Director and Head Nitin Gupta and PwC India Intelligent Business Transformation Partner and Practice Leader Padam Prakash were also present.
Two technical sessions were organised during the summit. The first, titled “Insuring Energy Security for Viksit Bharat: Harnessing Renewable Energy,” focused on strengthening India's energy security through renewable energy. Saumya Gananayak, India Representative, Global Green Growth Institute, said cooling would become one of India's biggest energy challenges over the coming decade due to the rapidly increasing use of air conditioners. He stressed that energy efficiency should be prioritised before large-scale renewable energy adoption, which could potentially reduce consumption by 20-30 per cent.
The panel also included Sunil Bansal, Managing Director, Diwakar Renewable and Infra Pvt. Ltd.; Vish Iyer, Managing Director (India and West Asia), Kelix Corporation; and Vinay Pabba, CEO, Vibrant Energy. The session was moderated by Manish Gupta, Co-Convenor, CII Rajasthan Panel on Energy and Water, and Chairman, Insolation Energy Limited.
The second technical session, “Building Robust Energy Supply Systems: Role of AI and Digital Technologies,” focused on the role of artificial intelligence, digital technology and energy conservation in developing resilient energy systems.
Ninad Bhanudas Pitale, Senior Vice President, Resonia Limited, said rapid efforts were underway to strengthen transmission infrastructure alongside the expansion of renewable energy in Rajasthan and across the country. He expressed confidence that coordinated efforts by the government, industry and citizens would help create a strong transmission network capable of accelerating the energy transition and future industrial growth.
Anil Sabu, Former Chairman, CII Rajasthan, and Managing Director, Electrolytes (Power) Pvt. Ltd., said India needs better coordination in the development of power generation, transmission and distribution to ensure the effective integration of renewable energy. He also highlighted the importance of AI-based and smart-grid technologies, including SCADA and automated fault-detection systems, to improve power reliability, reduce disruptions and costs, and build a more efficient and future-ready energy infrastructure.
Other speakers included Himanshu Chasta, Head – Renewables, Hindustan Zinc Limited; Ravi Sethi, Vice President, Business Development, Indian Energy Exchange Limited; and Alka Sharma, Territory Head (South Asia), Secure Meters Limited. The session was moderated by Gaurav Roongta, Former Chairman, CII Rajasthan, and Maan Structural Pvt. Ltd.