The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and WRI India have jointly unveiled the CI-NERGY Alliance – Steering Energy Transitions at Connect Karo 2025 in New Delhi. This initiative represents a unified national platform to accelerate the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector’s shift toward clean energy, aligning with India’s goal of achieving 50% installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2070.
BVR Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog, emphasized that the C&I sector is central to India’s growth but also a major energy consumer. He noted that CI-NERGY will bring together government, businesses, innovators, financiers, and policymakers to drive industrial decarbonization and enhance India’s climate competitiveness.
As one of the largest consumers of electricity and contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, the C&I sector has the potential to lead decarbonization through renewable energy adoption, energy efficiency, electrification, and innovative procurement models. With advancements in grid modernization, storage, and new technologies, the sector can strengthen India’s low-carbon economy.
Sujoy Ghosh, Co-Chairman of the Renewable Energy Council at CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, highlighted the urgent need for clean electrification across industries, stressing that the Alliance provides a timely platform for collaboration and scalable procurement solutions.
The CI-NERGY Alliance is designed as a self-sustaining, industry-led initiative to create an enabling ecosystem for clean power adoption. It will promote demand aggregation, standardized power purchase agreements, and transparent markets through data tools for tracking energy use and emissions reduction. By partnering with financial institutions, particularly to support MSMEs, it aims to expand access to green finance while showcasing scalable business models.
Bharath Jairaj, Executive Director for Energy at WRI India, said that collaboration and innovation are essential to accelerate the clean energy transition. He explained that the Alliance will address barriers to clean power adoption while promoting transparency, financing solutions, and practical models to boost competitiveness and resilience in the C&I sector.
The platform will also focus on peer learning and capacity building through a shared knowledge hub on procurement, technologies, and best practices. While open to all industries, the initial focus will be on textiles, pharmaceuticals, and data centers, sectors where clean energy adoption can have a significant impact. Positioned as a catalyst for industrial transformation, the CI-NERGY Alliance seeks to drive collaboration, innovation, and investment to help industries cut emissions and contribute to India’s climate and energy goals.
WRI India is a not-for-profit research organization working towards environmentally sound and socially equitable development. Legally registered as the India Resources Trust, WRI India supports decision-makers through rigorous analysis and actionable strategies that promote sustainable growth, enhance human well-being, and protect natural ecosystems.
