MANUFACTURING CONCLAVE 2026 HIGHLIGHTS CLEAN ENERGY OPPORTUNITIES FOR MSMES IN GOA
Panaji, March 28, 2026
The Manufacturing Conclave 2026, organized by the ASSOCHAM Goa State Council in collaboration with the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA), was successfully held at Taj Vivanta, Goa on 27th March 2026.
The event was graced by Chief Guest Shri Sanjeev Joglekar, Member Secretary, Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA). Dr. Sagar Salgaocar, Chairman, ASSOCHAM Goa State Council, and Ms. Bhakti Dempo, Chairperson, Women Empowerment Committee were also present on the dias. The conclave was attended by representatives from various industries and MSMEs across Goa.
During the session, Ms. Saina Shirodkar, Technical Assistant, GEDA, participated as an expert speaker and delivered an insightful presentation on the Clean Energy Roadmap for Goa and its relevance to industries and MSMEs.
She highlighted that Goa’s Clean Energy Roadmap, launched during the G20, has now entered the implementation phase, with several initiatives already underway, including the Net Positive Panchayat initiative, Green Rating System for Goa, Renewable Energy Policy, upcoming Biomass Policy, and innovative solar applications.
Emphasizing the role of MSMEs, she noted that industries form a significant part of Goa’s energy consumption and face challenges such as high electricity costs and dependence on fossil fuels like diesel, furnace oil, and LPG. A key insight from the roadmap is that thermal energy requirements, particularly for heat and steam, constitute a major portion of industrial energy demand.
She elaborated on emerging opportunities for MSMEs, including rooftop solar adoption, biomass-based energy systems, energy efficiency improvements, and waste-to-energy solutions. Special emphasis was laid on the concept of Green Heat and Green Steam, wherein industries can transition from conventional boiler-based systems to cleaner energy solutions through a service-based RESCO model, enabling them to access steam and heat without upfront investment while reducing operational costs.
Ms. Shirodkar also stressed the importance of industry participation, stating that GEDA’s approach is to first understand the willingness and requirements of MSMEs, based on which customized programs and solutions will be designed, followed by facilitation of financial assistance where required.
The session also covered initiatives such as the Green Rating System for restaurants and hospitality MSMEs, encouraging voluntary participation to enhance sustainability and market competitiveness. MSMEs were informed about the RAMP scheme implemented through DITC, offering support for energy audits and adoption of energy-efficient technologies.
Further, MSMEs located in Calangute, Caurem-Pirla, and Harvalem were encouraged to avail free energy audits under the Net Positive Panchayat initiative. The benefits of rooftop solar, including subsidy support and RESCO-based models, were also discussed.
A key highlight of the session was the cluster-based approach, wherein multiple MSMEs can collaborate to adopt shared clean energy solutions such as common solar plants, biomass systems, and centralized steam supply, thereby reducing costs and improving feasibility.
The conclave concluded with a strong call to action, urging MSMEs to explore clean energy options, participate in energy audits, and engage with GEDA to co-develop practical and scalable solutions for a cleaner and more efficient industrial ecosystem in Goa.
DI/NB/AXP/UB/VF/2026/1359