The industrial sector is a major pillar of India’s economy, contributing approximately 30% to the national GDP and accounting for nearly 40% of total energy consumption. Key industries such as manufacturing, food processing, dairy, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals play a critical role in driving economic growth and employment. These industries rely heavily on process cooling to ensure operational efficiency, maintain product quality, and prevent equipment from overheating. Cooling systems are essential for regulating machinery temperatures, facilitating chemical reactions, and preserving heat-sensitive materials.

As industrial activity expands to meet rising market demands, the need for efficient and reliable cooling infrastructure is becoming increasingly important. However, industrial cooling systems are also significant contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These emissions stem primarily from the use of high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants and the substantial energy required to power cooling equipment, much of which is derived from fossil fuels. Outdated and inefficient systems further exacerbate these impacts through excessive energy use and the leakage of harmful refrigerants.

In states like Assam, where industrial development is accelerating, it is essential to adopt sustainable cooling solutions that align productivity with environmental goals. This involves transitioning to low-GWP refrigerants, improving energy efficiency through advanced technologies, and integrating renewable energy sources where feasible.

In this context, WRI India in collaboration with Assam Climate Change Management Society (ACCMS), Govt. of Assam, is working towards development of a Cooling Action Plan for the Assam. This plan focuses on four key sectors: buildings, cold chain, industry, and transport, with the overarching goal of promoting sustainable cooling solutions and mitigating associated GHG emissions.

Objective of the meeting: This stakeholder meeting aims to bring together key actors from government agencies, research institutions, civil society, academia, and private sector to:

  • Assess current and future cooling demand in the industrial sector in Assam
  • Identify stakeholder priorities for sustainable industrial cooling
  • Explore interventions on energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean refrigerants
  • Prioritize state level recommendations for sustainable industrial cooling
  • Develop framework for implementation of these recommendations

Speakers:

  • Shri Rizwan Uz Zaman, Senior Technical Consultant, ACCMS, Govt. of Assam
  • Shri Hirdesh Mishra, IFS, Addl. PCCF & CEO of ACCMS, Govt. of Assam