India's race toward becoming the world's third-largest economy brings with it immense energy demand and with that, a unique opportunity to drive sustainable change. A striking takeaway emerged from ABB Motion’s recent fireside chat on accelerating energy efficiency through strategic Energy Appraisals. Held in collaboration with its customer and long-time energy efficiency movement partner Alfa Laval, the panel brought together voices from across the energy ecosystem - industry heads, service leaders, clean tech advocates, and digital experts.
Set against the backdrop of India's growing industrialization and urbanization, moderator Prasanna Deshpande kicked things off by connecting the dots between GDP growth and greenhouse gas emissions. “The numbers are telling,” he noted. “With India poised for a growth sprint, the energy load will spike. And that's where energy efficiency isn't just an option, it's a necessity,” added Prasanna.
From Audits to Appraisals: Shifting the narrative
While energy audits have long served as the industry's go-to diagnostic, Amit Gupta, President, Motion Services, ABB India, drew a sharp distinction between audits and appraisals. “Audits give you the symptoms. Appraisals are the diagnosis,” he explained. “If you're serious about investing in energy efficiency, appraisals offer you the business case - backed by data, actionable insights, and ROI.”
Echoing the sentiment, Oswald Deuchar, Head of Modernization Services, Motion Services, ABB highlighted how digitalization is revolutionizing the way we look at energy savings. “With continuous energy appraisal enabled by digital tools, we can now monitor, analyze, and act in real time. It's not just about one-time assessments anymore, it's a dynamic loop of optimization.”
Real challenges. Real talk.
Bringing in the voice of the customer, Bhargav Kapadia, Vice President & Head of Energy Division at Alfa Laval, India, acknowledged the hurdles companies face when shifting to energy-efficient technologies. “There's always that classic tug-of-war - economics vs ecology,” he said. “But the education gap is still the biggest barrier. We need to tell the story better, show the savings upfront, and empower industries to make informed choices.”
And choices are exactly what Snehal Suryawanshi, Head of Cleantech, Alfa Laval, India is enabling. From plate heat exchangers to zero liquid discharge systems and waste heat recovery, his team is helping customers turn waste into worth. “Innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand. It's about delivering performance with purpose,” Snehal emphasized.
Collaboration is the new efficiency
Sanjeev Arora, President, Motion Business, ABB India, underscored the critical role of partnerships, between OEMs, industry players, academia, and regulators, in propelling the energy efficiency agenda. “Government initiatives like the PAT scheme and star labeling are pivotal. But the industry needs to co-own the journey. We must go beyond compliance to conscience,” he said.
He also emphasized the need to advocate for higher standards in motor efficiency, such as shifting from IE2 to IE4 and integrating VFDs. “It's not just about energy savings anymore. It's about engineering a future where industry can outrun its own emissions,” he added.
Industries leading the way
Which industries are stepping up? According to Amit, manufacturing sector and buildings have been early adopters, driven by decarbonization targets and regulatory demands. But the key to unlocking broader adoption lies in measuring and analyzing energy data effectively, and that's where ABB's digital energy appraisal tools are making a difference.
Oswald elucidated how turning energy guzzlers into efficiency champions - through real-time monitoring and hands-on collaboration - has helped customers not only cut costs but carve a clear path toward decarbonization.
What's next: Turning talk into action
The fireside chat wasn't just a dialogue—it was a springboard for decisive next steps. Among the follow-up actions:
- Customer Education Programs: To close the awareness gap on energy-efficient solutions
- Energy Efficiency Symposiums: To build a wider ecosystem of informed adopters
- Policy Advocacy: To push for tougher energy standards and incentives
- Academia Collaboration: For research and innovation in clean tech
- Digital Optimization: To scale real-time energy appraisals across industries
- Startup Challenges: To fast-track next-gen solutions in motors and drives
The bottom line
In a world chasing net-zero targets, energy efficiency remains the lowest-hanging fruit and yet, not fully leveraged. As India builds, scales, and modernizes, energy efficiency will be the invisible hero. The fireside chat made it clear: we already have the tools, the tech, and the talent. What we need now is collective intent. Stay tuned as we turn these ideas into action. Because when it comes to energy efficiency, the time to outrun is now.
