31 Oct – 1 Nov 2026 · IIT Bombay
India Clean
Cooking Forum 2026
A two-day national forum on clean cooking technologies & markets in India
Theme: Market Mechanisms for Mainstreaming Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) in Indian Kitchens.
Background & rationale
India's cooking energy sector stands at a critical crossroads. Urban kitchens shifted to LPG through the 1960s, and after years of effort, the majority of rural households acquired LPG connections in the 2020s — though adoption remained uneven. Commercial and institutional kitchens still lean heavily on commercial LPG cylinders and, in parts of rural India, firewood.
Piped Natural Gas and induction cooktops have added further clean options over the last decade, while a range of DRE-based technologies — natural and forced-draft stoves on processed biomass, biogas plants paired with biogas stoves, and several types of solar cookers — have been evolving and taking root in pockets across the country.
The recent geopolitical crisis in West Asia triggered a sudden LPG shortage, hitting commercial, institutional and household kitchens alike, and forced a fast transition to DRE cooking technologies in both rural and urban settings. It made one thing clear: with the right market mechanisms, DRE cooking energy can move to the heart of the Indian kitchen — as part of a clean, swadeshi cooking energy stack.
Jointly convened by the Clean Energy Access Network (CLEAN) and C-TARA, IIT Bombay, ICCF 2026 brings technology developers, NGOs, last-mile distributors, industry and policymakers together to co-create a self-sustaining, market-oriented DRE cooking ecosystem for Indian kitchens.
Objectives
Catalyse evidence-based dialogue
On the current state of the DRE-based clean cooking sector in India, grounded in data rather than assumption.
Showcase the technology range
Solid biomass, biogas, solar, ethanol and hydrogen cooking technologies, through live demonstrations on campus.
Surface the real barriers
Identify critical demand- and supply-side barriers to market development, and propose actionable solutions.
Strengthen sector linkages
Between technology developers, NGOs, last-mile providers and investors — reducing donor dependence and building real market mechanisms.
Build a sector roadmap
Mainstreaming DRE-centred cooking energy stacks (with fossil fuels as backup) across rural, urban, household and institutional kitchens.
Technologies
Live demonstrations take place on Day 2, culminating in cooking demonstrations and end-user experience sharing.
Participants
Technology developers, manufacturers, service providers, NGOs and civil society organisations working on last-mile clean cooking access
Industry sponsors and private-sector players, including petroleum companies (e.g. IOCL) and renewable energy firms
Academic institutions and research bodies, including C-TARA / IIT faculty and students
Government representatives from energy, environment, rural development and livelihoods — local, state and central
Development finance institutions and impact investors
Participants cover their own travel and logistics. Train travel is encouraged to minimise the event's carbon footprint, in keeping with the forum's sustainability ethos.
Programme
Nine thematic sessions across two days, opening with the inauguration and closing with a shared sector roadmap.
Day One — 31 October
High tea through Conference DinnerDay Two — 1 November
Live demos through the concluding remarksSpeakers
The line-up for each session's presentations and panels is being finalised.
Speaker and presenter details for ICCF 2026 will be published here as they are confirmed.
Venue & logistics
- Venue
- IIT Bombay campus
- Dates
- 31 October & 1 November 2026
- Exhibitor fee
- None — free for technology exhibitors
- Stay & travel
- Self-arranged; discounted stay options being organised
Expected outcomes
Actionable, consensus-based recommendations for DRE cooking sector players
A strengthened network of technology providers, NGOs and industry actors committed to market-based approaches
Greater awareness among industry and policy stakeholders of viable, market-ready DRE cooking solutions
Documentation of technology demonstrations and best practices for wider dissemination
A shared sector roadmap identifying priority actions for the transition to a market-oriented ecosystem — advocating that kitchens across India adopt DRE-centred clean cooking energy stacks
Working on clean cooking technologies?
Demonstrate them at ICCF 2026.
No participation fee for technology exhibitors. Scan the code, tap the button, or write to the Secretariat to register — and advocate for innovative clean cooking solutions.
Scan to register