India’s cities are heating up, with extreme summer heat posing a significant challenge for local administrations, especially in rapidly growing urban areas like Tamil Nadu. In Chennai, the state capital, cooling accounts for over 50% of household energy consumption. To address this, the GIZ’s Energy Efficient Cooling project, in collaboration with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and Tabreed India, organized a regional workshop on ‘Cooling India’s Cities’ in Chennai.
The workshop brought together key stakeholders, government officials, and experts to discuss strategies for integrating district cooling and energy solutions into Tamil Nadu’s urban planning. Key discussion points included:
- Technological opportunities and limitations of District Cooling Systems (DCS), with case studies on greenfield and brownfield projects.
- Mapping the policy and practice ecosystem, highlighting the need for a long-term vision for sustainable cooling solutions.
- Building networks among government officials, utilities, private sector leaders, developers, and researchers to promote innovative district cooling solutions.
This workshop marks a significant step towards integrating district cooling and energy solutions into Tamil Nadu’s urban planning.
