During the Detailed Preparation Phase (DPP), projects funded by the Mitigation Action Facility are further refined with targeted expertise and technical guidance provided by the Technical Support Unit (TSU). This phase is critical to transforming promising ideas into bankable, high-impact interventions. Typical DPP activities include stakeholder outreach, market engagement, early technical assessments, and on-the-ground validation of decarbonisation potential.
The India – Industrial Clusters (DeepDC) project, that is in the DPP since 01 April 2055, offers a compelling example of what this preparatory work can look like in practice. The project is being implemented by a consortium of sequa, STENUM Asia and aimplifin.
What does industrial decarbonisation look like on the ground?
On 9 December 2025, in the Waluj industrial cluster near Shambajinagar in western-central India, the DeepDC project team experienced this first-hand. Together with the Marathwada Association of Small Scale Industries & Agriculture (MASSIA), the team convened an awareness workshop that brought together SME owners and senior managers to discuss climate change, the role of Indian SMEs, and how step-by-step industrial decarbonisation can be implemented in real operating environments.
With more than 20 SME leaders participating, discussions quickly moved beyond why decarbonisation matters to how it can be achieved. Participants openly shared the operational and financial challenges they face in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and welcomed DeepDC as a timely initiative to help address these barriers.
A key outcome of the engagement was a clear willingness to move from dialogue to action. Several SME owners invited the DeepDC team to their facilities for detailed walk-through energy audits to better understand their decarbonisation potential. Over the following two days, on-site audits were conducted at seven SME plants, with many more companies indicating interest in follow-up engagement.
Early insights from the Waluj cluster
Initial findings from the Waluj industrial cluster were encouraging:
- Many SMEs have already implemented basic energy efficiency measures and are keen to deepen their efforts.
- Technical teams and managers demonstrated strong operational and process knowledge.
- Awareness of advanced energy efficiency technologies promoted under DeepDC is still emerging, positioning the cluster well for deeper engagement and transformational impact.
Building momentum through outreach and networking
Stakeholder engagement continued in January 2026 through a series of outreach and networking activities, a core element of the DPP.
On 15 January 2026, the DeepDC SME Workshop, facilitated by 3R ZeroWaste with support from the Manesar Industries Welfare Association (MIWA), provided SMEs with an opportunity to engage in discussions on industrial decarbonisation and learn how the DeepDC project can support their transition. The session included an introduction to the project and available decarbonisation opportunities.
Earlier that month, DeepDC partners participated in MASSIA’s Advantage Maharashtra Expo (AMExpo), held from 8-11 January 2026 in Aurangabad. The event brought together a diverse group of businesses, solution providers, and industry stakeholders and offered valuable opportunities to discuss energy efficiency, energy cost management, and pathways towards a low-carbon future.
These interactions reinforced a consistent message: SMEs are keen to move beyond intent towards actionable, cost-effective decarbonisation solutions.
Engaging industry across regions
On 16–17 January 2026, the DeepDC team further expanded its outreach by participating as an exhibitor at the Buyer Seller Meet – B2B Exhibition & Vendor Development Programme in Ludhiana, northern India. The event was organised by the Chamber of Industrial & Commercial Undertakings (CICU) in association with the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India.
The platform enabled direct interaction with MSMEs, manufacturers, and buyers. Discussions focused on industrial decarbonisation, resource efficiency, and the business case for reducing emissions while lowering energy costs—an area of particularly strong interest among participating SMEs.
From preparation to measurable impact
As the DeepDC project continues through the Detailed Preparation Phase, these on-the-ground activities are helping to refine the project design, validate demand, and build strong partnerships within industrial clusters. Together with local industry associations and SMEs, the project is laying the foundation to turn decarbonisation intent into measurable climate and development impact.
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