Plaksha University, in collaboration with Tabreed India and IFC TechEmerge, has piloted an innovative residential cooling solution combining renewable energy with a Phase Change Material (PCM)-based Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system. Designed for the hostel where peak cooling demand occurs at night—when solar power is unavailable—the system charges during the day shaving peak energy demand and discharges stored cooling at night, ensuring energy efficiency and grid stability. This hybrid model reduces dependency on fossil fuels and grid electricity while addressing India’s rising night-time cooling demand. The compact, cost-effective Cryofreeze PCM outperforms traditional battery and water-based systems, cutting carbon emissions and lifecycle costs. Integrated with a smart metering-based billing system, the model encourages user accountability and behavioural change. As a pioneering Cooling as a Service (CaaS) model in residential cooling, the initiative is scalable and replicable, particularly for dense urban areas. With minimal infrastructure needs, it offers a practical, climate-resilient model aligned with India’s energy transition and net-zero goals.
