Decarbonising Key MSME Clusters Could Save Rs 370 million Crore Annually: Study

The findings highlighted the dual benefits of cost savings and reduced CO₂ emissions.

A recent study conducted by the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) examined decarbonisation within the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector. Decarbonisation involves reducing or eliminating carbon dioxide emissions. The study found that implementing energy-efficient measures, renewable energy solutions, and advanced technologies could result in significant annual savings—Rs 370 million in energy costs and a reduction of 1,36,581 tonnes of CO₂ emissions for 66 units across seven key MSME clusters.

The clusters included in the study were Alathur, Asansol-Chirkunda, Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, Coimbatore, Ludhiana, and Tiruppur. The findings highlighted the dual benefits of cost savings and reduced CO₂ emissions. However, achieving these benefits would require an initial investment of Rs 90 crore across these clusters. The study underscores the potential economic and environmental advantages of decarbonisation for the MSME sector, suggesting that despite the upfront costs, the long-term savings and environmental impact make it a worthwhile investment.