Saint-Gobain, Cleantech Solar Collaborate for 18.7 MW Solar Power System in Tamil Nadu

Sustainable construction player Saint-Gobain India has announced that it has partnered with Cleantech Solar to commission an 18.7 MW solar PV system at Cleantech’s solar park in Tamil Nadu. This is to support Saint-Gobain Group’s commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Saint-Gobain has said that this solar PV system is expected to generate approximately 28 MU/annum of clean energy during the lifetime of the project, avoiding over 20 kilotons per year of CO2 emissions.

The company will procure power on a captive open access basis to power its manufacturing facilities in Sriperumbudur and Perundurai. Procuring power from the solar PV project will contribute to Saint-Gobain’s goal of limiting its environmental impact, countering climate change, reserving natural resources, and reducing waste and atmospheric emissions.

Venkat Subramanian, Managing Director, Gyproc business, Saint-Gobain, said, “With likeminded partners like Cleantech Solar, we are embarking on an era of clean energy transmission, a world that all of us can be proud of and for future generations to enjoy.”

A.R. Unnikrishnan, Managing Director, Glass business, Saint-Gobain, stated, “Our joining hands with Cleantech is taking place at the right time when there is an increasing global need to move away from fossil fuel sources of energy. Aimed at fulfilling the ambitious target of 100% Green Power by 2027-28, the agreement with Cleantech Solar is also another step in our continued efforts to add more green capacity through collaboration with green power generators and to meet our sustainability targets.”

Futuristic Approach

Saint-Gobain said that it is aligning with India’s goals for a sustainable economy and focusing its expansion and development goals in line with sustainable and renewable energy targets. Through various initiatives like shifting of high carbon fossil fuels to natural gas, migration of solid fuels to biomass, waste heat recovery and reuse and circularity actions, the company in India has attained its mid-term goals set for 2025 much ahead of time.

Saint-Gobain said that by the end of 2022, solar power will replace close to 68 MIL units of electricity required. By 2025, Saint-Gobain India will have 65% of its electricity consumption coming from renewables. Rainwater harvesting, development of urban forest and bio-diversity actions continue to remain key focus areas under climate actions.