India is exploring ways to curb energy use by ACs

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia has said that the government is looking for a way to curb energy consumption in the air conditioning (AC) sector.

Speaking at an event organized by the Indian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, the Secretary indicated that considering the projected growth in demand in the AC sector, energy consumption can be reduced in various sectors.

A 2024 report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) projects a significant increase in electricity demand in India in the coming years, with AC electricity consumption in India alone expected to exceed Mexico’s total electricity demand by 2035. The report also estimated a 4.5-fold increase in the number of air conditioners in India during the same time period.

The secretary said: “This is something that we are designing. We are working with the World Bank on this. We are not only looking at introducing new technologies, but also talking about transferring technologies.” He said the government is exploring ways to utilize coal in more efficient ways such as coal gasification.

On Ease of Doing Business (EODB), he stressed the need for regulation to ensure industries and businesses flourish, as he pointed out that the government’s launch with 27 reforms has now reached nearly 400 reforms.

Later in the day, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and the Secretary interacted with stakeholders from India’s pharma ecosystem with a focus on strengthening the regulatory framework and accelerating growth.

The meeting discussed industry perspectives on innovation, data security framework, investment commitments and opportunities to scale up manufacturing in India.