Australian Refrigeration Association | NRDC CLEAN ENERGY INDIA

HOW SOLAR ENERGY IS POWERING A BREAKTHROUGH OPPORTUNITY FOR SALTPAN FARMERS IN GUJARAT’S DESERT

To expand energy access, NRDC and the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) are working to increase off-grid clean energy access and improve the lives of saltpan farmers working in the salt flats of Gujarat. In July, NRDC and SEWA released a draft case study, Worth Their Salt: Draft Case Study for Clean Energy Access in the Salt Marshes of Gujarat, analyzing two innovative pilot projects by SEWA. The case study measures the potential benefits, including cost savings, in the transition from diesel-powered water pumps to more efficient solar pumps, along with the payback period after which the upfront cost of the solar pumps is recouped. Findings from the pilot projects demonstrate that switching to solar energy can save production costs, increase efficiency and salt harvest outputs, and improve farmers’ livelihoods.

To support the transition from diesel to solar-powered pumps, NRDC and SEWA organized a roundtable discussion in Ahmedabad with leading financial institutions titled, “Financing for Clean Energy Access: Structuring a Sustainable and Scalable Financing Model for the Salt Farmers of Gujarat” in mid-July. The workshop brought together members of the financial community including central government institutions such as MNRE, IREDA and SIDBI, and private banks including HDFC Bank and Yes Bank, among others. The group came up with several promising solutions such as creating a revolving loan fund and bundling government subsidies with international climate finance. Read more about NRDC and SEWA’s collaboration here.

FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE: PROGRESS ON PHASING DOWN HFCS

To advance discussions on a global phase down of dangerous heat-trapping gases, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar convened a high-level “Stakeholder Consultation Meeting on India’s Amendment Proposal for Phase-Down of HFCs” with industry and civil society leaders in early July. NRDC along with our partners, the Council of Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), presented our in-depth analysis and research, including our updated report, Reducing Stress on India’s Energy Grid The Power Sector Benefits of Transitioning to Lower Global Warming Potential and Energy Efficient Refrigerants in Room Air Conditioners. Read more here.

In late July, NRDC and the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD) hosted a side event at the 36th Montreal Protocol Open Ended Working Group Meeting in Paris that focused on the Interactive Montreal Protocol Amendment Comparison Tool (IMPACT). The innovative IMPACT tool, developed by NRDC and partners, analyzes the four proposed HFC amendments to the Montreal Protocol and explores custom variations to provide insights on the differences among proposed amendments and climate protection benefits. Read more about the IMPACT tool here.

IN-DEPTH RESEARCH AND SCALING FOR HEAT HEALTH PREPARDNESS – SPOTLIGHT ON TRAFFIC POLICE

With many still recovering from the devastating heat waves that struck India and neighboring countries, NRDC and our partners at the Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinager (IIPH-G) are conducting in-depth research, focusing on understanding the heat-related experience of traffic police in Ahmedabad in order to develop practical interventions to better protect outdoor workers. These strategies can be incorporated into the Heat Action Plan piloted in 2013 and save lives.

With momentum building for scaling efforts across India, Nagpur hosted a follow-up workshop to its initial “Developing Heat Action Plan (HAP) for Nagpur City” workshop in early July with IIPH-G and NRDC on crafting the city’s first heat action plan. Additional key cities and states that are exploring preparation of their own HAPs are Surat, Gujarat, and Bhubaneshwar/Odisha. Read more about our in-depth research here and our scaling efforts here.