Tata Power and Keppel Deploy Advanced Cooling Service at Chennai's Intellion Park

A strategic alliance between Tata Power Trading Company Limited and Keppel Limited's Infrastructure Division, in partnership with Infopark Properties Limited (a subsidiary of Tata Realty and Infrastructure Limited), will bring an innovative cooling solution to Intellion Park in Chennai.

The facility, situated across 25.27 acres in Taramani's IT corridor and encompassing both special economic zones and non-SEZ areas, will operate with a total installed capacity of 12,100 tonnes of refrigeration. The project is targeted to commence operations in October 2026 under a 15-year service agreement.

The solution leverages high-efficiency equipment and intelligent control systems to deliver an estimated 20% reduction in the facility's energy consumption. Central to the initiative is an artificial intelligence and machine learning-powered Operations Nerve Centre, a proprietary technology developed by Keppel, which provides continuous real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and dynamic optimisation to enhance operational efficiency, system reliability, and environmental sustainability.

Intellion Park's commitment to sustainability is reinforced through its sourcing of renewable energy from Tata Power. The addition of the Cooling-as-a-Service model strengthens the facility's integrated, low-carbon energy framework. Future expansion of the partnership is anticipated to encompass heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, including low-side air-handling infrastructure, thereby enabling additional efficiency improvements and enhanced occupant comfort through comprehensive energy management.

The Cooling-as-a-Service model eliminates upfront capital expenditure for clients while remaining scalable and adaptable to emerging technologies, offering sustainable and cost-effective cooling operations.

Dr. Praveer Sinha, Chief Executive and Managing Director of Tata Power, highlighted the significance of the partnership: "India's commercial real estate sector faces accelerating cooling demands, presenting both challenges and opportunities for energy management. Our collaboration with Keppel and Tata Realty at Intellion Park exemplifies how integrated solutions combining renewable energy with advanced cooling technologies can drive decarbonisation and operational efficiency. This partnership demonstrates Tata Power's capability to extend such integrated service models—encompassing Utilities-as-a-Service and Energy-as-a-Service—across real estate portfolios, data centres, global capability centres, and industrial customers."

The initiative aligns with India's Cooling Action Plan and addresses growing peak power demands across the nation.

Sanjay Dutt, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Tata Realty and Infrastructure Limited, characterised the agreement as transformative: "This partnership represents a fundamental evolution in how modern commercial infrastructure is designed, managed, and operated—transitioning from traditional asset ownership models to performance-driven, outcome-focused service arrangements. By combining Tata Power's operational expertise, Keppel's international leadership in cooling technology, and Tata Realty's long-term asset management capabilities, we are establishing a collaborative framework that merges local execution with global technical standards. This arrangement extends beyond a conventional cooling contract; it serves as a model for how forward-thinking organisations can collaborate to enhance operational performance, user experience, and environmental stewardship."

As Tata Realty pursues expansion of its portfolio to approximately 30 million square feet over the coming five years while advancing net-zero objectives by 2045, Tata Power and Keppel are positioned to support this trajectory through their complementary energy capabilities.

Beyond Intellion Park, the consortium has already secured additional Cooling-as-a-Service contracts and is developing a substantial pipeline of opportunities spanning commercial real estate, data centres, advanced manufacturing facilities, district cooling systems for planned urban developments, and large mixed-use complexes including airport infrastructure.

Cindy Lim, Chief Executive of Keppel's Infrastructure Division, emphasised the strategic importance: "Cooling has evolved from a peripheral utility to a fundamental component of how built environments are designed, managed, and decarbonised. The Operations Nerve Centre, powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning, will continuously refine Intellion Park's energy performance, optimising efficiency, enhancing system resilience, and improving cost outcomes. Through this collaboration with Tata Power and Tata Realty, we are establishing a replicable framework to deploy Cooling-as-a-Service across diverse sectors and geographies, addressing escalating demand and supporting the Tata Group's pathway to net-zero emissions."

Global energy analysts project that India will become the world's largest consumer of space cooling by 2050, according to the International Energy Agency. In this context, innovative solutions such as Cooling-as-a-Service are anticipated to play a pivotal role in facilitating India's energy transition and supporting national sustainability objectives.