Recognizing the potential scale of cold chain infrastructure development in India and the need for a holistic approach on different development pathways, the BEE and the World Bank have collaborated on a study on energy efficiency in the cold chain. The specific focus of the study, which was funded by ESMAP, was chosen to be packhouses, as the segment of the cold chain that is expected to see the most significant capacity addition over the next two decades, according to currently available projections. Accordingly, the objective of the study was to support BEE in developing policy and regulatory options for enhancing energy efficiency in packhouses in India. To this end, the study comprised three main tasks, namely stocktaking and initial assessment, in-depth data collection and analysis, and development of policy and regulatory recommendation for action by BEE, in coordination with other stakeholders.

This study makes recommendations on specific policy and regulatory measures related to building design and layout, equipment choice, and operation and maintenance processes, as well as around information dissemination, training and certification, and facilitating access to finance.

In the first of its kind assessment, the report proposes recommendations based on the analysis of 25+ pack-houses, catering to different varieties of fruits and vegetables and located across major agro-climatic zones in India.