New Delhi: Supplying electricity on demand at an affordable price matters more than choosing between thermal power and renewable energy, NTPC Limited Chairman and Managing Director Gurdeep Singh said on Tuesday. He was speaking on the first day of the 20th India Energy Summit 2026, organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in New Delhi.
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“The real question is not whether thermal power or renewable energy should take precedence, but whether we can provide power on demand and at an affordable price,” Singh said.
According to the ICC’s statement, he pointed to economic growth, El Niño conditions, artificial intelligence (AI), data centres and rising cooling requirements as forces pushing up electricity demand. Meeting that demand will need a more flexible grid, he said. “With coal continuing to play a significant role in meeting India’s electricity needs and renewable energy capacity expanding, grid flexibility and energy storage are becoming increasingly important.”
Singh linked energy security to domestic technology. “Technology self-reliance is equally critical to energy security, and we must develop domestic alternatives that reduce import dependence while advancing a diversified energy mix,” he said.
Anil Razdan, former Power Secretary and Chairman of the ICC Expert Committee on Energy, spoke about the effect of geopolitical tensions and disruptions in global energy transportation on energy markets. According to the statement, he said rising oil prices reflect not only concerns over fuel availability but also the growing cost and complexity of moving energy to major consumption centres.
“Recent global disruptions have brought energy security sharply into focus. The challenge is not simply the availability of fuel, but also its transportation and the cost of getting it to growing consumption centres,” Razdan said.
He then turned to renewable energy and its limits. “Renewable energy offers enormous potential, but its intermittent nature makes storage an essential part of the power system. Unless adequate storage infrastructure is developed, we will not be able to realise the full potential of renewable energy,” he said.
Razdan also spoke about the conditions needed for investment. According to the statement, he said sustained investment across the energy value chain depends on a supportive business environment, with clear regulations, access to raw materials and viable markets. He said power distribution companies (discoms) must be strengthened so they recover revenue on time and the sector can keep attracting investment.
Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), called for advance planning to keep pace with demand. “With electricity demand rising significantly, we need to plan well in advance to manage the demand-supply gap,” he said.
Prasad said this would need better forecasting and new policy. “This calls for stronger demand forecasting and appropriate policies to address emerging requirements, including the growing energy needs of data centres.”
Like Singh, Prasad stressed domestic capability. “Building a more India-centric manufacturing ecosystem and strengthening domestic capabilities in power sector components will also be critical to reducing dependence on global supply chains and enhancing India’s energy security,” he said.
The two-day summit is supported by the Ministry of Power and is themed “The Energy Business: The Present, Diversification and The Future.” According to the statement, the discussions focus on energy diversification, reliable and affordable electricity, renewable energy integration, grid stability and energy storage. The agenda also covers biofuels, coal gasification, hydrogen, nuclear power and electricity markets.
The inaugural session opened with a theme presentation by Anujesh Dwivedi, Power Utilities and Renewables Leader at Deloitte, the summit’s knowledge partner and award evaluator. Special addresses followed from Abhigyan Kotnala, Chief Executive Officer of Fortgloster Industries Limited, Sudip Nag, Managing Director of Jindal Power Limited, and Kush Singh, Managing Director of Enecovery.
The first day’s technical sessions covered power capacity addition across renewable, thermal and hydro sources. Further sessions cover the role of biofuels in linking the agricultural and energy economies, and grid access and stability for renewable energy integration, including storage support and commercial optimisation. A separate session examines opportunities in coal gasification and in coal derivatives, by-products and chemicals.
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On the second day, the summit will take up hydrogen production and pricing, nuclear power, and BSR standardisation and execution. It will close with awards for consistently performing government and private discoms. According to the statement, those to be recognised include Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited, Kerala State Electricity Board, BSES Yamuna Power Limited and Northern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Limited. Tata Steel Utilities and Infrastructure Services Limited and West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited are also among them.
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