Newsletters

The theme of this issue is the state of Uttar Pradesh (U.P.), which has around nine million MSME units, falling under diverse sub-sectors: from energy intensive industries such as bricks, ceramics, chemicals, engineering goods, foundry, forging, glass, metal work, re-rolling, rice mills, sugar mills and textiles to artisanal/handicraft industries such as handloom, leather products, silk weaving, terracotta pottery, wooden toys, and zari-zardozi embroidery. These MSMEs contribute almost 60% of the state’s total industrial output, and sustain the livelihoods of millions of people. However, there is a lack of reliable, precise, and updated information related to the technologies and energy usage patterns of the various MSME sub-sectors and clusters in U.P. TERI plans to address this information gap in coming years. The theme article provide an overview of U.P., including its economy, infrastructure, MSME scenario, energy scenario, and a few important stakeholders that play key roles in the U.P. MSME sector.

This issue continues to focus on solar thermal technology for a range of applications including industrial process heat. The theme article presents highlights of a training program on concentrated solar thermal (CST) systems, held during 26–27 June 2025 at the National Institute for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (NI-MSME), Hyderabad under the GEF–UNIDO–MoMSME project titled ‘Promoting business models for increasing penetration and scaling up of solar energy’. The second article presents snapshots of three techno-economic studies conducted by TERI on pharmaceutical units/medical establishments in Goa. In each case, it was recommended that the unit install an extended compound parabolic (xCPC ) solar thermal system to generate thermal energy for preheating water and delivering the hot water to the existing boiler, thereby helping to meet process hot water needs at a much lower cost.

The theme of this issue is solar thermal technology, which enables the conversion of sunlight to heat energy that can be used for a range of applications including industrial process heat. The theme article outlines two significant projects to promote solar thermal technology with focus on the MSME sector: one being implemented by UNIDO and Government of India with funding support from the GEF; and the other, a study being conducted by TERI with support from Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF). The article includes a few examples of techno-economic studies as well as snapshots of two implementations. The issue also summarizes a webinar held on 20th November 2024 by the Solar Energy Society of India (SESI), International Solar Energy Society (ISES), SSEF, and TERI to accelerate deployment of solar thermal projects for industrial and other heat applications.

The focus of this issue remains on the cold storage sector. The theme article provides an overview of the primary technologies and processes used in cold storages, and the scope for introducing energy efficient (EE) technologies including renewable energy (RE) options. A case study is presented on a solar cold room implemented by TERI in the village of Sadali in Karnataka with financial support from EKOenergy, Finland, through a participatory model that focused on involvement and empowerment of women members of the local community. The issue also summarizes two sets of energy assessment studies undertaken by TERI in cold storages in West Bengal (under a project supported by SSEF) and cold storages spread across Delhi, Ajmer, and Mumbai in partnership with Tata Power (under a project supported by the MacArthur Foundation).

This issue focuses on the cold storage sector, which is critical for supporting and ensuring the productivity and sustainability of the entire agricultural value chain. The inadequate and uneven distribution of existing cold storage capacity and related infrastructure is the main reason for very high levels of post-harvest losses in agricultural produce. Also, studies on existing cold storages have revealed significant need and scope for introducing energy-efficient, low-emissions technologies and practices. The theme article outlines the salient elements of the India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) launched by the Government of India in 2019 to meet the entire national cooling requirements by 2037–38, including meeting the projected increase in energy demand of the expanding cold storage sector. It also presents snapshots of some of the major government policies and schemes that have been launched in this direction, and the initiatives and achievements in a few states

This issue focuses on the Union Budget for the current financial year (FY 2024–25), and outlines some of the important plans and measures set out in the Budget that are relevant to MSMEs under the broad thrust areas of energy security; manufacturing & services; employment & skilling; and infrastructure. It also provides snapshots of some significant initiatives and milestones that have marked the transformation of the MSME sector and helped its recovery and growth following the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. The issue also outlines a World Bank-assisted scheme titled ‘Raising & Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP)’, which is being implemented by The Ministry of MSME, (MoMSME) and extends over the five-year period 2022–2026.

This issue focuses on studies undertaken by TERI on the Sundergarh secondary steel cluster in Odisha under the SED Fund supported project. The first article summarizes the situation analysis of the Sundergarh cluster including a number of identified energy conservation measures (ECMs). The second article presents some ECMs in more detail based on plant-level studies in three categories of industries: (1) steel melting units using electric induction furnaces (EIF); (2) steel rerolling mills (SRRM); and (3) direct reduced iron (DRI) plants. The issue also carries a summary of the discussions during the 23rd meeting of SAMEEEKSHA held on 7th June 2024 at Pune.

This issue focuses on the new opportunities for scaling up technology cooperation in environmental technologies (ETs) between India and Japan under the JITMAP initiative being implemented by TERI and IGES, Japan. The formalization of support for technology transfer and the establishment of norms for trading carbon credits and carbon offsets under Article 6—in particular, Article 6.2—will help both Japan and India take advantage of the avenues opened up for technology cooperation, including mobilization of finance, through the ‘Joint Crediting Mechanism’ (JCM) at the bilateral level and under the UNFCCC ambit at the global level.

The focus of this issue remains on decarbonization of the Indian iron & steel sector. The first article summarizes the proceedings of an awareness workshop on ‘Green Technologies & Practices for Steel Industries’ organized on 29th November, 2023 at Durgapur by TERI in association with Durgapur Steel Plant (SAIL), EEPC India, and Durgapur Chamber of Commerce & Industries. The second article presents a brief profile of the Durgapur secondary steel cluster. The last article summarizes the outcomes of a round-table discussion on the steel sector that was organized by Climate Catalyst, TERI, and Mission Possible Partnership during the COP28 conference held in Dubai in November-December 2023.

The theme article outlines studies and actions under a project supported by the Stichting SED Fund aimed at decarbonization of the hard-to-abate steel and cement sectors. The focus is on MSMEs which make up a significant proportion of steel rerolling (SRR), direct reduced iron (DRI, also known as sponge iron), electric arc furnace (EAF) and electric induction furnace (IF) sub-sectors. The second article summarizes deep-dive studies conducted on 10 SRR mills in the Raipur secondary steel cluster. The last article outlines a study on sponge iron industries in Raipur cluster.

The SAMEEEKSHA newsletter has crossed a milestone of sorts with the publication of its 50th issue in March 2023, 12 years after the first issue was brought out in December 2010. It is an appropriate moment to track the progress made in bringing about EE improvements in the MSME sector at a time when India is striving to achieve its ambitious target of becoming a net-zero economy by 2070. The theme article presents a bird’s eye view of some of the significant EE interventions and achievements in the MSME sector during 2011–2022. The issue also carries a summary of the 22nd Meeting of SAMEEEKSHA platform, held in Kolkata on 27th March 2023.

The theme of this issue is a GIZ-supported study project undertaken by TERI in six secondary steel sub-sectors: namely, foundry; forging; steel re-rolling (SRR); direct reduced iron (DRI, also known as sponge iron); electric arc furnace (EAF); and electric induction furnace (IF). The issue also summarizes the progress made by TERI and IGES under the ‘JITMAP’ initiative to promote high-efficiency environmental technologies (ETs) in India. It concludes with a summary of the 21st Meeting of SAMEEEKSHA platform, held at Raipur, Chhattisgarh on 18th November 2022.