Press Release – Grundfos‑Led Roundtable on District Cooling (Coimbatore, 25 Aug 2026)

Grundfos Pumps India Pvt. Ltd., a wholly‑owned subsidiary of Denmark‑based Grundfos, hosted and moderated a roundtable at the ISHRAE CoOL Conclave 3.0 in Coimbatore. The event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, urban planners, utilities, developers, academics and sustainability experts to discuss how India can secure its cooling future while pursuing the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

The participants agreed that district cooling must move from a building‑level option to a core element of urban infrastructure, underpinning economic productivity, public health, urban resilience and long‑term energy security. They noted that India’s cooling demand is rising rapidly due to urbanisation, higher living standards and the development of new cities and industrial corridors, creating growing pressure on electricity networks, especially during evening and night periods when solar generation falls short.

Benefits Highlighted

  • District cooling can substantially lower peak electricity demand by leveraging load diversity, centralized operation, optimized equipment utilisation and thermal‑energy storage.
  • Economic advantages include reduced electrical‑infrastructure requirements, lower operating costs, decreased maintenance burdens and extended equipment lifecycles.
  • Integrated water‑management opportunities were discussed, with treated wastewater and recycled water potentially supplying district‑cooling systems, thereby easing freshwater stress.

Adoption Barriers & Policy Gaps

The roundtable identified that the main obstacles are no longer technological but regulatory and institutional. Specific gaps cited were:

  • Absence of clear utility status for district‑cooling schemes.
  • Inconsistent fit within existing urban‑infrastructure regulatory frameworks.
  • Unclear tariff structures and lack of rights‑of‑way provisions for distribution networks.

Recommended Policy Actions

Participants called for a suite of measures to accelerate adoption:

1. Recognise district cooling as a public utility.

2. Embed district‑cooling feasibility assessments as a standard component of master‑plan development for greenfield cities, mixed‑use projects, industrial townships, campuses and major infrastructure.

3. Provide rights‑of‑way for distribution infrastructure.

4. Support feasibility studies through government incentives.

5. Clarify tariff frameworks and offer incentives for domestic manufacturing of district‑cooling equipment.

Call for Collaboration & Evidence

The discussion stressed that success requires coordinated action across national ministries, state governments, municipal authorities, utilities, developers, industry bodies and technology providers. Stakeholders urged the creation of high‑quality Indian case studies that quantify energy savings, infrastructure optimisation, water benefits, operational performance and long‑term economic value. Such evidence, they argued, will help policymakers, investors and consumers make informed decisions.

Quote from Grundfos

Ronak Monga, Global Sales Development Director – District Energy, Grundfos, stated: “India’s cooling challenge is also one of India’s greatest opportunities. The strong alignment across stakeholders shows cooling security must become a national priority. District cooling is not simply a cooling solution; it is a strategic infrastructure investment that can strengthen energy security, improve resource efficiency, support sustainable urban growth, and help India progress towards its Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.”

Company Background

Grundfos India manufactures more than 16 million pump units annually, supplying circulator pumps for heating and air‑conditioning as well as centrifugal pumps for industry, water supply, sewage and dosing. The company positions its technology as a contributor to global sustainability.

The roundtable concluded with a commitment to continue dialogue, translate discussions into actionable policies and accelerate large‑scale district‑cooling implementation across India.