IIT Ropar’s CREED brings advanced energy & water auditing to Goa’s MSMEs
Under RAMP Programme, in a quiet but consequential push to green India’s smallest state among the nation’s broader decarbonisation drive, the Centre of Research for Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization (CREED) at the Indian Institute of Technology Ropar has brought specialized energy and water audits to micro, small, and medium enterprises in Goa under the Government of India’s acclaimed Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) program, partnering with the state’s Directorate of Industries, Trade and Commerce to arm local industrial units with essential tools, insights, and technical guidance for trimming costs, rooting out inadequacies, and embracing cleaner technologies.
Backed by hard research and a strong record of industrial engagement across numerous states, the Centre of Research for Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization’s auditing arm, KISEM, has been working closely with micro, small, and medium enterprises in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana on decarbonisation efforts, now spreading that expertise to Goa by forming a dedicated team to map energy and water consumption patterns in local industries, detectiting often-unnoticed operational wastage, with each audit delivering an investment-grade project report that details corrective measures, technology upgrades, and process optimizations to drive sustainable advancements under the RAMP initiative.
For Goa’s MSMEs, the programme has come at a favourable moment. The RAMP scheme offers a 50 per cent government subsidy on the cost of energy audits, substantially lowering the barrier for small industries to access top-tier technical expertise. Combined with additional incentives under the umbrella scheme, the collaboration has opened the door for businesses in the state to modernize operations while keeping costs controllable. Officials involved in the initiative noted that the audits are helping MSMEs address long-standing challenges — from excessive fuel and electricity usage to incompetent water handling and old-fashioned machinery.
Many units, they said, would be able to identify high-impact, low-investment improvements within days of CREED’s assessments. CREED’s work in Goa builds on its expanding national footprint in energy-efficiency services. In Punjab, where the Centre has been deeply active, CREED-led initiatives have already proposed more than 49,000 tonnes of CO₂ reductions yearly, underscoring the Centre’s capability to deliver real-world climate gains using systematic audits and industry-focused research. Commenting on the initiative, IIT Ropar Director Prof. Rajeev Ahuja said that CREED’s engagement in Goa reflects the institute’s commitment to bringing academic excellence to the industry’s doorstep. “Our work with MSMEs under the RAMP program will show how targeted interventions can reshape industrial performance. By combining advanced research with on-ground support, we will help enterprises become cost-efficient, resource-conscious, and future-ready.”
CREED Coordinator Dr. Manigandan S added that the Centre’s audit methodology is designed to be both practical and transformative. “We focus on solutions that industries can implement immediately, while also preparing them for long-term sustainability. The response from Goa’s MSMEs has been extremely encouraging.” As the programme continues, IIT Ropar’s CREED is expected to expand its engagement with Goan industries, firming the state’s shift toward cleaner, more efficient manufacturing practices.
