ŠKODA AUTO Volkswagen India has taken a major step towards green energy by inaugurating an 18.5 MW solar-power rooftop at its Chakan plant in Pune, Maharashtra.
This move is in line with the VW Group’s global ‘goTOzero’ mission and will help the company reduce its dependence on non-renewable energy sources while contributing to the global target of achieving carbon neutrality at all its sites by 2030.
The solar-power rooftop installation will generate a total of 26.6 million kWh of energy per year, covering up to 30 percent of the Chakan Plant’s annual electricity requirements and offsetting CO2 emissions resulting from car production at the site by more than 28 percent per year.
With India targeting net-zero emissions by 2070 and planning to meet 50 percent of its electricity requirements from renewable sources by 2030, this initiative by ŠKODA AUTO Volkswagen India demonstrates the company’s commitment to a carbon-neutral future.
Piyush Arora, Managing Director and CEO of ŠKODA AUTO Volkswagen India Private Limited, commenting on the milestone said, “As India sets its sights on a greener future, with renewable energy and reduced carbon emissions at the forefront, we are proud to play our part in this transition. The inauguration of one of the automotive industry’s largest solar-power rooftop at our Pune plant is a testament to the Volkswagen Group’s commitment to ‘goTOzero’ and our efforts towards a carbon-neutral future. After this expansion, the solar-power rooftop will cover up to 30 percent of the plant’s total energy consumption. This milestone, comes close on the heels of our Aurangabad facility switching to 100 percent Green Energy late last year. These initiatives are in continuation of our holistic approach towards decarbonisation, resource efficiency and sustainable production.”
