Wed Mar 26 12:23:31 UTC 2025: ## India Faces Looming Power Crisis Due to Air Conditioner Boom, Study Warns

**New Delhi, [Date]** – India’s rapidly growing air conditioner market is poised to create a major strain on the nation’s power grid, potentially leading to widespread blackouts within the next few years, according to a new study by the India Energy and Climate Center (IECC) at UC Berkeley.

The study projects that the addition of 130-150 million room air conditioners over the next decade could increase peak power demand by a staggering 180 gigawatts (GW) by 2035 – nearly 30% of projected total demand. This surge, driven by rising temperatures and economic growth, outpaces the country’s current power generation capacity and could trigger serious electricity shortages as early as 2026.

Lead author Nikit Abhyankar warns that without policy intervention, air conditioners alone could drive 120 GW of peak demand by 2030. He stressed that air conditioners are becoming a leading cause of peak demand, potentially leading to blackouts or expensive emergency measures.

However, the study also offers a solution: doubling the energy efficiency of room ACs over the next 10 years. This, the researchers argue, could save consumers up to Rs 2.2 lakh crore (USD 26 billion) and avoid severe power shortages. The IECC recommends updating India’s Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), starting with a 2027 revision to raise the 1-star label to ISEER 5.0. This measure alone could prevent 60 GW of shortages by 2035.

The study highlights that while more efficient ACs may have higher upfront costs, long-term savings from reduced electricity bills would more than offset this, resulting in net savings for consumers. Furthermore, the researchers note that many Indian manufacturers already produce highly efficient models, presenting an opportunity to leverage the “Make in India” and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes to establish India as a global leader in sustainable cooling technology. The report also calls for updating AC testing procedures to better reflect India’s humid climate. The findings underscore the urgent need for policy changes to mitigate the looming power crisis.

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