The Aurangabad site of the world’s largest automaker Volkswagen Group has switched to 100% green energy, much in advance of its 2025 goal.
This objective of the Volkswagen Group has been advanced by Volkswagen India Private Limited (SAVWIPL), which oversees the Indian operations of five Volkswagen Group brands: ŠKODA, Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, and Lamborghini. Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited issued the facility with a Green Energy Certificate (MSEDCL).
Official Statement
Commenting on the milestone, Piyush Arora, Managing Director and CEO of ŠKODA AUTO Volkswagen India Private Limited said, “Sustainability is a key pillar of the Group’s corporate strategy. It is also a cornerstone of our manufacturing processes. In the Volkswagen Group, ‘goTOzero’ is not only a roadmap for effective climate protection, it is also an integral strategic initiative towards sustainable mobility. We take a holistic approach to decarbonisation – from production through service life to recycling.
We are enormously proud of achieving 100% Green Energy Certification for our Aurangabad facility well in advance of the target date. This feat moves us closer to our goal of achieving carbon neutrality in our manufacturing operations by the second half of the decade and motivates us to forge ahead with our Green Future initiatives.”
Implementation
In order to meet 40% of its yearly energy needs, SAVWIPL’s Aurangabad Plant commissioned a 980 kWp rooftop solar power facility earlier in 2018. This enhanced the plant’s capacity consumption of green energy. The Aurangabad Plant of SAVWIPL has been the first to use renewable energy from MSEDCL in place of the external energy source. MSEDCL will certify an automobile plant in Aurangabad as a Green Energy Plant. By switching to “green” energy, the Aurangabad facility will reduce its annual CO2 emissions by 48%.
In line with its “goTOzero” ambition, the Volkswagen Group wants to eliminate all carbon emissions by the year 2050. Throughout the entire global supply chain and product life cycle, The Group maintains a constant focus on its carbon-neutrality targets.