Tabreed India Workshop Explores Sustainable Cooling for Maharashtra’s Future
ECONOMY & POLICY

Tabreed India Workshop Explores Sustainable Cooling for Maharashtra’s Future

Maharashtra is rapidly advancing toward a $1 trillion economy. Balancing rapid urbanisation while ensuring sustainability has become a pressing challenge. Recognising this, Tabreed India, in collaboration with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, successfully hosted its third regional workshop, 'Cooling India’s Cities,' in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The event is part of an ongoing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Tabreed India and GIZ’s ‘Energy Efficiency Cooling’ programme, jointly implemented with BEE. The programme is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) as part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The workshop brought together key stakeholders to explore how Maharashtra can accelerate its climate and infrastructure strategies through an integrated approach.

Home to India’s largest commercial and industrial hubs, Maharashtra faces a rapidly rising cooling demand, driven by expanding cities, a booming data centre industry and intensifying heat stress. Cities like Mumbai, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Solapur, have set ambitious Net Zero targets for 2050, far ahead of India’s national commitment for 2070. Meeting these goals requires an urgent shift in the way urban infrastructure is designed, planned, and implemented.

Speaking at the event, Milind Deora, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, remarked: “With Maharashtra leading an infrastructure transition, robust discussions on technological innovation are essential. Scalable, integrated solutions like District Cooling will be crucial in building economically competitive & climate-resilient cities. A clear climate mandate, along with empowered Mayors to implement it, is the way forward.”

Ilka Hirt, Deputy Director General for International Policy at the German Federal Ministry of Environment, emphasised the global significance of sustainable cooling: "The transition to sustainable cooling is not just a national priority, but a global imperative. Through the International Climate Initiative we are committed to supporting India in adopting energy-efficient cooling solutions that align with global climate goals. District Cooling is a critical enabler of urban resilience, helping cities like Mumbai build a future that is both economically and environmentally sustainable."

Through expert panels and case studies, the workshop explored how District Cooling can support Maharashtra’s existing climate frameworks, including the Maharashtra State Adaptation Action Plan on Climate Change (MSAAPCC) and Mumbai’s Climate Action Plan (MCAP). Industry leaders discussed the opportunity provided by District Cooling Systems (DCS) to integrate with waste-to-energy plants, city gas networks and renewable energy, to create a circular, low-carbon ecosystem. Presenting a real-world example, Anson Sando, Head of Energy Programs at IIT Madras Research Park (IIT MRP), showcased Tamil Nadu’s pioneering District Cooling Steering Committee and the live deployment of DCS at IIT MRP, highlighting its potential to slash energy demand and peak electricity loads.

Sudheer Perla, Managing Director, Tabreed Asia, stressed the need for Maharashtra to take a demand-driven approach to its energy transition: "India’s push for renewable energy is commendable, but rising cooling demand continues to outpace supply. Maharashtra’s climate leadership provides a unique opportunity to shift focus towards efficiency improvements, demand-side management, and integrated urban planning. District Cooling can reduce energy demand and consumption by up to 50%, while enabling circular energy use by repurposing waste heat, sewage and alternative fuel sources, ensuring Maharashtra can decarbonise rapidly while sustaining economic growth.”

The workshop concluded with a strong call for regulatory support, public-private partnerships and dedicated pilot projects, to integrate District Cooling into Maharashtra’s urban planning and infrastructure investments. By embedding sustainable cooling solutions into its economic and climate strategy, Maharashtra can not only achieve its Net Zero ambitions but also enhance energy security, attract green investments and improve urban resilience in the face of rising heat stress.

By positioning integrated energy solutions such as District Cooling as the linchpin of Maharashtra’s urban future, policymakers, urban planners, and industries can move from incremental improvements to transformative change, ensuring cities remain engines of growth without compromising climate resilience or energy security.

Maharashtra is rapidly advancing toward a $1 trillion economy. Balancing rapid urbanisation while ensuring sustainability has become a pressing challenge. Recognising this, Tabreed India, in collaboration with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, successfully hosted its third regional workshop, 'Cooling India’s Cities,' in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The event is part of an ongoing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Tabreed India and GIZ’s ‘Energy Efficiency Cooling’ programme, jointly implemented with BEE. The programme is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) as part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The workshop brought together key stakeholders to explore how Maharashtra can accelerate its climate and infrastructure strategies through an integrated approach. Home to India’s largest commercial and industrial hubs, Maharashtra faces a rapidly rising cooling demand, driven by expanding cities, a booming data centre industry and intensifying heat stress. Cities like Mumbai, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Solapur, have set ambitious Net Zero targets for 2050, far ahead of India’s national commitment for 2070. Meeting these goals requires an urgent shift in the way urban infrastructure is designed, planned, and implemented. Speaking at the event, Milind Deora, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, remarked: “With Maharashtra leading an infrastructure transition, robust discussions on technological innovation are essential. Scalable, integrated solutions like District Cooling will be crucial in building economically competitive & climate-resilient cities. A clear climate mandate, along with empowered Mayors to implement it, is the way forward.” Ilka Hirt, Deputy Director General for International Policy at the German Federal Ministry of Environment, emphasised the global significance of sustainable cooling: The transition to sustainable cooling is not just a national priority, but a global imperative. Through the International Climate Initiative we are committed to supporting India in adopting energy-efficient cooling solutions that align with global climate goals. District Cooling is a critical enabler of urban resilience, helping cities like Mumbai build a future that is both economically and environmentally sustainable. Through expert panels and case studies, the workshop explored how District Cooling can support Maharashtra’s existing climate frameworks, including the Maharashtra State Adaptation Action Plan on Climate Change (MSAAPCC) and Mumbai’s Climate Action Plan (MCAP). Industry leaders discussed the opportunity provided by District Cooling Systems (DCS) to integrate with waste-to-energy plants, city gas networks and renewable energy, to create a circular, low-carbon ecosystem. Presenting a real-world example, Anson Sando, Head of Energy Programs at IIT Madras Research Park (IIT MRP), showcased Tamil Nadu’s pioneering District Cooling Steering Committee and the live deployment of DCS at IIT MRP, highlighting its potential to slash energy demand and peak electricity loads. Sudheer Perla, Managing Director, Tabreed Asia, stressed the need for Maharashtra to take a demand-driven approach to its energy transition: India’s push for renewable energy is commendable, but rising cooling demand continues to outpace supply. Maharashtra’s climate leadership provides a unique opportunity to shift focus towards efficiency improvements, demand-side management, and integrated urban planning. District Cooling can reduce energy demand and consumption by up to 50%, while enabling circular energy use by repurposing waste heat, sewage and alternative fuel sources, ensuring Maharashtra can decarbonise rapidly while sustaining economic growth.” The workshop concluded with a strong call for regulatory support, public-private partnerships and dedicated pilot projects, to integrate District Cooling into Maharashtra’s urban planning and infrastructure investments. By embedding sustainable cooling solutions into its economic and climate strategy, Maharashtra can not only achieve its Net Zero ambitions but also enhance energy security, attract green investments and improve urban resilience in the face of rising heat stress. By positioning integrated energy solutions such as District Cooling as the linchpin of Maharashtra’s urban future, policymakers, urban planners, and industries can move from incremental improvements to transformative change, ensuring cities remain engines of growth without compromising climate resilience or energy security.

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Indian Delegation Visits South Africa for Trade and Investment Talks

A nine-member Indian delegation participated in the second session of the India-South Africa Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment (JWGTI) held in Pretoria from 22 to 23 April 2025. Discussions were conducted in a cordial atmosphere, focusing on expanding trade ties, boosting investments, and fostering greater people-to-people exchanges. The meeting was co-chaired by Malose Letsoalo, Chief Director, Bilateral Trade Relations, Department of Trade, Industry and Competition of South Africa, and Priya Nair, Economic Adviser, Department of Commerce, India. Delegates from the High Commission ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Ministry of Cooperation Inaugurates NCOL Organic Packaging Facility

The Ministry of Cooperation inaugurated a new state-of-the-art packaging facility of National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The centre is dedicated to packaging pulses and organic products while maintaining high hygiene and quality standards. Dr Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, called the facility a major milestone in promoting the Bharat Organics brand. The initiative aims to empower farmers and expand access to certified organic produce across India, while offering premium prices to farmers and affordable organic food to consumers. Un..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Adani Airport Seeks $750 Million Loan from Global Banks

Adani Group is in discussions for an offshore loan of up to $750 million for its airport arm, Adani Airport Holdings Limited, with international banks such as Barclays Plc, First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, and Standard Chartered Bank Plc. The funds will support capital expenditure and repay dollar-denominated debt maturing in September. The deal is expected to conclude by early May. Adani Airport Holdings Limited operates seven major airports across India and is preparing to open a new international hub worth $two billion on the outskirts of Mumbai. This would be the Group’s second significant o..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?