Panel Discussion and fireside chat focus on clean-energy transistionThe growing energy demands of artificial intelligence and the evolving role of digital technologies in managing renewable energy infrastructure were in focus at the Times Internet Ecopreneur Awards 2026, where experts discussed how AI can support the clean energy transition while minimising its environmental footprint.A panel discussion titled "AI vs Climate: Is Intelligence Becoming the Planet's Biggest Energy Consumer?" brought together Nidhi Sarin, director, energy transition, Global Energy Alliance; Kiran K R, chief digital officer, Adani Green Energy; and Rajneesh Sareen, programme director, sustainable habitat programme at the Centre for Science and Environment.Speaking on AI's energy requirements, Kiran said data centres account for a significant share of the electricity consumption when it comes to growth of AI. "For every query we put into AI bots, a lot of energy is consumed," he said, adding that as AI becomes more affordable and widely adopted, its overall energy consumption is expected to rise alongside falling costs.Meanwhile, on the topic if the water footprint that comes with AI and date centres if being ignored, Rajneesh Sareen disagreed saying, "This is how the technology comes." He also said the issue cannot be ignored but argued that users must become more conscious of how they deploy the technology, adding that "many tasks currently being performed using AI could instead be addressed through simpler solutions." He stressed the need for more responsible and efficient use of AI rather than applying it indiscriminately.Nidhi Sarin said the relationship between AI and energy should not be viewed as a competition for resources but as an opportunity to develop both together. "The way I see it, these two are very complementary," she said, advocating an "AI for energy and energy for AI" approach. She said the expansion of digital infrastructure alongside energy infrastructure presents an opportunity to solve broader development challenges, create jobs and improve the efficiency of the energy sector, provided AI is deployed thoughtfully.The discussions continued with a fireside conversation featuring Sumir Ganguly, chief marketing officer, Watt Power, who said India's solar sector is entering a new phase where efficient management of renewable assets will become as important as expanding installed capacity. "Essentially, the conversation over the last decade has been about increasing capacity. We are doing a pretty good job of moving towards our goal of 500 GW by 2030," he said.Going forward, Ganguly said the focus must shift from simply generating electricity to managing it more efficiently."It's not just about generating power, it's about managing it now," he said, adding that it needs to be ensured that "we can can help maximise system uptime while reducing operational costs for clients and customers."He also talked about AI and how it will play an increasingly important role in predictive analytics and asset management, while grid-forming technologies are also expected to become critical in supporting a more reliable renewable energy ecosystem.Then, offering advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, Ganguly said founders should remain anchored to a clear purpose. "Have a core purpose about what you do. It's about living that purpose," he said.