Super-Efficient Air Conditioners: Breakthrough Insights from Field Testing at Palava, India

By Tarun Garg – RMI India Foundation, Aun Abdullah - Lodha

As the world grapples with rising temperatures and a growing need for thermal comfort, India is at the forefront of an unprecedented cooling energy demand. A recent nine-month field testing initiative, led by the Global Cooling Efficiency Accelerator (GCEA) in collaboration with Lodha and supported by the Clean Cooling Collaborative, has unveiled groundbreaking results in Palava City near Mumbai. Conducted from October 2023 to June 2024, the study compared super-efficient air conditioner (AC) prototypes—designed with advanced humidity control and energy-saving features—against typical market-available units. The findings reveal that super-efficient ACs use up to 60% less energy, eliminate uncomfortable humidity levels, and reduce peak demand by 50%, offering a scalable solution to India’s projected 1 billion AC units by 2050.

The testing, carried out in carefully selected apartments with similar characteristics, exposed ACs to India’s challenging warm and humid climate, where temperatures ranged from 16.5°C to 40.8°C and humidity fluctuated between 20.3% and 90%. Unlike typical ACs, which often overcool to manage humidity—wasting energy and failing to maintain comfort—the super-efficient prototypes, inspired by Global Cooling Prize-winning technologies, excelled at both temperature and humidity control. This resulted in zero “uncomfortable hours” and a 4.9X lower climate impact compared to baseline units, showcasing their potential to cut greenhouse gas emissions and ease grid strain. Additionally, consumers could save over 50% on energy bills over the AC’s lifetime, highlighting the economic benefits of making such products a default choice for the market.

These results mark a pivotal moment for India to lead globally in sustainable cooling. The GCEA urges policymakers, manufacturers, and buyers to unite and demonstrate their leadership at this critical juncture to accelerate the adoption of super-efficient ACs. With urbanization and heatwaves on the rise, this technology promises to transform lives, strengthen grid resilience, and combat climate change—making cooling accessible and affordable for billions while safeguarding the planet.