Energy Efficient Cooling

April-June | 2025
Bilateral

Mitigation of Climate Change

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Cooling India's Cities Sustainably: GIFT City Hosts Training on District Cooling Systems

Project Updates

A two-day training on District Cooling Systems (DCS) was held in GIFT City under the Indo-German Energy Efficient Cooling (EE Cool) project, supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. Implemented by GIZ India and the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy, the programme brought together experts from national and state institutions, offering insights into DCS technologies, planning, and scaling, along with a technical site visit to GIFT City’s operational DCS.

Rethinking Urban Cooling: Capacity Building on District Cooling Systems in GIFT City

As India’s cities grow rapidly, so does the need for sustainable and energy-efficient cooling solutions. Can India meet this surging demand without derailing its climate ambitions?

This was the core focus of a two-day training programme on District Cooling Systems (DCS), conducted under the Indo-German Energy Efficient Cooling (EE Cool) project. The initiative is supported by BMWK and the BEE, Ministry of Power, and implemented by GIZ India and AEEE as the lead of the Project Management Unit.

Hosted in GIFT City, Gandhinagar, the training convened national and state-level experts and officials from:

• NITI Aayog, NIUA, and central technical bodies
• State departments from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Kerala
• Key institutions including Industrial Development Corporations, Planning Commissions, Urban Development Authorities, and Municipal Corporations

The programme was inaugurated by Mr. Arijit Sengupta, Director at BEE, who emphasised the importance of integrated planning and local leadership in scaling energy-efficient cooling.

What participants gained:

• A comprehensive understanding of DCS technologies and applications
• Policy and planning frameworks for implementation
• Strategies for operationalising, monitoring, and scaling district cooling

A highlight was the technical site visit to GIFT City’s operational DCS infrastructure—including the District Cooling Plant, Thermal Energy Storage, Utility Tunnel, and Control Centre—offering a live look at smart urban systems in action. The result? A stronger, more connected community of professionals exploring how district cooling can be a game changer for India’s climate-smart urban future.