Bridgestone India Begins Solar Power Generation on Both Plants

Bridgestone India’s two plants in India have opted for using solar power.

The tire manufacturers Pune Plant in Chakan, in the state of Maharashtra in Western India, has currently installed 1 MW of Solar capacity and is in the process of setting up of another 4 MW of capacity which will commence operations by September 2019. The Indore plant in Kheda, in Madhya Pradesh in Central India, has 1 MW solar energy capacity that is being enhanced by another 1 MW capacity slated to be operational by the third quarter of 2019.

Parag Satpute, Managing Director, Bridgestone India, said, “Usage of clean energy is key to Bridgestone’s sustainability goals. In sync with this, our adoption of solar energy reduces the dependence on conventional forms of energy leading to a reduction in the carbon footprint.”

“1 MW of solar capacity saves an estimated 1000 tonnes of CO2 emission per year. By this estimate, the 7MW of solar capacity will save an estimated 150,000 tons of CO2 emission over two decades. For us in India, this is a step towards the company’s global long term commitment of achieving a 50% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2050 and beyond.”

While using solar energy is good for the environment, it also reflects positively in monetary terms. 1MW of solar power results in savings of nearly 59 million rupees worth of electricity expenses in 20 years.

Bridgestone Group has focused on the “Environment,” as one of the Priority Areas of its Group’s global CSR commitment ‘Our Way to Serve’ and has set a target of a 35 percent reduction in CO2 emissions per net sales from operations and products’ after-use by 2020 (compared to 2005). Also, it has set a long-term environmental vision for the year 2050 and beyond, for realising an environmentally sustainable society.

The realisation of CO2 reduction will be an important part of achieving this vision. As one of Bridgestone Group, Bridgestone India is committed to working for a healthy environment for present and future generations.