Energy Efficient Cooling

The demand for cooling is rising in tandem with the rise in global temperatures. This is especially true of a largely tropical, developing economy like India where rising temperatures, population growth and rising incomes are fuelling the demand for cooling. With summers bringing along increasingly intense and frequent heatwaves, access to cooling is no longer a luxury but a necessity for survival. However, as of 2018, only 5% of households in India owned air-conditioners according to an IEA survey. Cooling is not just used by residential consumers. Commercial buildings, cold-chains, refrigeration, transportation, and industries also require cooling and this demand will increase as the economy grows. At present, India has one of the lowest access to cooling across the world, which is reflected in its low per capita levels of energy consumption for space cooling, at 69 kWh, as compared to the world average of 272 kWh.

The demand for cooling will lead to greater energy demand, add stress on existing grid infrastructure, increase consumption of high GWP (global warming potential) refrigerants and lead to an increase in emissions unless actions are taken to make cooling systems in India more energy efficient and design our structures in such a way that the need for cooling is reduced.

Foreseeing the complex energy trends and challenges that India would have to confront, Shakti was one of the first to identify early action opportunities for cooling efficiency and phasing down of high GWP refrigerants, areas that can play a profound role in shaping the future sustainability of the country. For over six years now, we supported our grantee partners to build a fact-base on these opportunities through policy research, analysis, and consensus building.

In March 2019, India became one of the first countries in the world to launch a national roadmap that recognises cooling as a developmental need linking it with economic growth, health, wellbeing, and productivity of its citizens. The India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP), the development of which was supported by Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation provides a 20-year perspective (2017-18 to 2037-38) for making cooling sustainable and accessible for all.

Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation’s work in the cooling sector parallels the vision of the ICAP. Our efforts are targeted at strengthening the cooling ecosystem by promoting thermal comfort for all, sustainable and clean cold chain, refrigerant transition, and super-efficient cooling appliances.