Board of Directors of Tata Projects visit TERI Gwal Pahari Campus
On November 27, 2024, TERI hosted the leadership team of Tata Projects, including its Board of Directors, CXOs, and MD and CEO, at its Gwal Pahari campus.
A thought leadership session was organized for the leadership team, focusing on key strategies for decarbonizing the infrastructure sector. Tata Projects leadership team were apprised of TERI’s work on sustainable infrastructure, energy assessment and modelling, biofuels and pilots on CCUS. The leadership discussed sustainable strategies of Tata Projects.
Dr. Sanjay Seth, Senior Director, Sustainable Habitats Programme emphasized the critical role of open-source information in enabling informed decision-making for sustainable building practices. TERI’s efforts like the establishment of the TERI- Mahindra Center of Excellence for Sustainable Habitats were discussed for providing thermal performance data for building materials. The challenges were also discussed which includes the adoption of green construction methods remains low, with only 5–6% of buildings currently meeting green standards.
Discussions also centered on policies and incentives to encourage sustainability. Dr Sanjay Seth from TERI suggested mechanisms such as additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for green-certified buildings and financial incentives, including lower interest rates for sustainable projects. He further reiterated the significance of integrating sustainability at the design stage, noting that three-star GRIHA certification can often be achieved at no extra cost when implemented early.
An important segment of the meeting focused on the urgent need to scale round-the-clock energy storage solutions, particularly through pumped storage capacity. Participants deliberated on the policy and operational challenges that hinder the scaling of such technologies, emphasizing the critical role they play in achieving a balanced and sustainable energy grid. Dr. Prodipto Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow, TERI suggested drafting a joint white paper or policy brief to address the challenges of grid scale storage projects. The leadership team discussed the role of pure play models on a mass scale as well as transmission and operational challenges for storage projects. The proposed joint paper could serve as a blueprint for government and private sector collaboration to fast-track implementation. The role of sustainability cess in public contracts were also deliberated.
The meeting also called for possible scaling up of new technologies such as green hydrogen, biofuels, and carbon capture and storage. Participants discussed the potential of Article 6 mechanisms under the Paris Agreement to mobilize international cooperation and funding. The participants concurred that creating awareness and demand among end-users, ensuring sustainability becomes a differentiating factor in the construction ecosystem.
Dr. Prodipto Ghosh and Ambassador Ajai Malhotra, Distinguished Fellows, TERI proposed leveraging Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCMs) to generate negative emissions by investing in Nature-based Solutions (NbS), initiating green hydrogen pilot projects, and fostering collaborations with other hard-to-abate industries.
The visit aimed to align with Tata Projects’ sustainability goals and Tata Group’s Aalingana initiative, which serves as the guiding star of the Group’s sustainability journey.
The meeting reinforced the necessity for joint efforts between industry leaders and research institutions, setting the stage for future initiatives that contribute to India's journey toward a sustainable and prosperous future. The leadership session concluded with a tour of various facilities showcasing TERI's research work.