Coimbatore, the ideal choice for district cooling systems

The average cooling penetration in residential units in India is just 8% and in urban areas it is 10% to 15%. | Photo credit: S.SIVA SARAVANAN

At one of the panel discussions on clean zero cities held recently as part of the ISHRAE Cool Conclave in Coimbatore, panelists discussed how the country can secure its cooling future while paving the way for sustainable growth.

Organized and moderated by Grundfos, the roundtable brought together stakeholders from across the cooling ecosystem.

Cooling is now a basic infrastructure in metros and smaller cities. India’s demand for refrigeration is growing rapidly due to multiple factors. District cooling is one of the most effective tools available to provide a sustainable cooling solution for hotels, hospitals, homes, industries and commercial buildings.

“The previous state government had laid down a policy for district cooling. It should come as a project in Tamil Nadu,” said J. Sathish, Director, Kongu Global Forum.

By incorporating district cooling into master plans, cities can avoid future constraints while unlocking significant long-term economic and environmental benefits, said Ronak Monga, Global Sales Development Director, District Energy, Grundfos India.

District cooling is a centralized cooling system that is prevalent in West Asian countries. The pipe network should not have a radius greater than three km. Buildings will be duct cooled and metered, similar to electricity supply. If the municipality has a dense population in a small area, a district cooling system is ideal. According to him, individual buildings do not need to set aside space or invest in air conditioning.

“The district cooling system helps balance the peak (electrical) load. It reduces the ‘grid input’ during peak periods. The average cooling penetration in residential units in India is just 8% and in urban areas it is 10% to 15%. Coimbatore is one of the ideal cities for this project as greenfield community development projects can implement it,” he said.

It needs land and involves laying underground pipes. There are also investments in equipment and operating costs. Treated wastewater can also be used for water. As many as 70 such plants are now operational in India. While the water requirement for these systems is high, it reduces peak electricity consumption for cooling requirements, he added.

With Coimbatore’s residential communities, weather and water availability, it is a natural choice, Mr. Monga said.

Published – 06 Sep 2026 11:00 PM IST