By Adesh Saxena, GM and Head – Retail Sales, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL)
India is on the cusp of an energy transformation. As one of the fastest-growing economies and a climate-vulnerable nation, our need to build robust, inclusive, and climate-resilient energy models has never been greater. At the intersection of this transformation lies a powerful lever: public-private partnerships (PPPs). When directed strategically, PPPs can unlock scale, innovation, and affordability, especially in retail markets where millions of energy consumers make choices that collectively shape our climate trajectory.
Over the last decade, public-private collaboration has evolved from isolated pilots to systemic enablers of India’s green goals. In this evolution, retail energy efficiency, especially cooling, lighting, and appliance use has emerged as a frontier with transformative potential. With rising urbanisation, heatwaves, and electricity demand, the retail energy footprint is both a challenge and an opportunity.
Retail participation is changing shape
In the past, retail energy markets in developing economies were constrained by supply and dominated by price sensitivity. This paradigm is shifting. Today, the emphasis is on enabling choice, ensuring that consumers can select technologies aligned with both their economic needs and environmental goals. Retail is now positioned at the core of the energy transition.
This shift is being facilitated by a new generation of PPPs that combine the commercial agility of private enterprises with the developmental goals of public agencies. These partnerships increasingly focus on demand aggregation, last-mile delivery, and blended financing models. Clean cooking initiatives that promote induction cooktops and other modern solutions have shown how carbon finance mechanisms can be harnessed to expand access while easing cost burdens. By doing so, they address energy poverty and reduce health risks from traditional cooking practices without straining household budgets.
Similarly, community-based energy programmes are training local volunteers to act as clean energy ambassadors within their own neighborhoods. These individuals support awareness, distribution, and adoption of energy-efficient products such as LED lighting, high-efficiency fans, and clean cooking appliances. Grounded in grassroots engagement, this approach is helping bridge the gap between sustainable technology and everyday usage, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
Cooling demand and the energy equation
India’s energy demand is increasingly shaped by its cooling needs. Air conditioners and fans currently account for a substantial share of household electricity consumption. During peak summer months, this demand surges, putting considerable strain on power systems. The integration of high-ISEER air conditioners and Brushless Direct Current fans into the retail market is helping to address this challenge. These appliances consume significantly less electricity compared to standard models, reducing both consumer bills and system-level stress.
Some partnerships have made use of innovative business models that distribute these efficient appliances through local storefronts, informal retailers, and micro-distributors. These approaches are informed by the realities of how Indian consumers shop and adopt new technologies. They also benefit from enabling mechanisms such as easy financing and bundled service offerings, which reduce entry barriers for lower-income users.
Insights from the field
Effective PPPs in retail share a few defining features. They are informed by behavioural data that helps tailor product messaging and inventory planning. They incorporate education into the retail process, enabling consumers to understand the long-term value of energy-efficient choices. And they decentralise distribution, empowering local entrepreneurs and volunteers to drive adoption.
Several pilot efforts have now matured into national programmes with strong reach and replicable frameworks. These include platforms that allow for mobile ordering, field-based product demos. Such tools reinforce trust and familiarity, both of which are essential to influencing household-level decisions.
Clean cooking and efficient cooling technologies, when made visible and viable through targeted interventions, are finding traction beyond early adopters. The combination of demand stimulation and local activation has proven to be a viable path to scale.
Reimagining growth through resilience
The evolving structure of PPPs reflects a broader shift in development thinking. Growth today must be measured by resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability. As technology becomes more modular and policy support more targeted, the retail sector will play an increasingly important role in delivering on both climate commitments and consumer aspirations.
The path ahead points to a retail environment that delivers more than products, it delivers outcomes. These outcomes include lower emissions, more stable electricity supply, and improved indoor environments. Achieving these requires alignment across multiple stakeholders including manufacturers, policymakers, financiers, and retailers.
India’s success in climate adaptation will be defined by what is adopted in the everyday lives of its citizens. The deployment of super-efficient appliances, the quiet adoption of induction stoves, and the growing role of local energy champions are all signs of a retail revolution in progress. This is the frontier where resilience becomes a tangible retail reality.
