RNAIPL's Oragadam Plant Utilised 85% Green Energy B/W July-Dec 2023

To achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2045, Renault Nissan Automotive India (RNAIPL), the automotive manufacturer located in Oragadam, Chennai, has predominantly used green power for its operations during the second half of 2023. On an average, the plant utilised more than 85 per cent green energy every month between July and December 2023, with 100 per cent green energy utilisation in September 2023. RNAIPL uses a combination of in-house and externally sourced green energy to produce cars. 

Keerthi Prakash, Managing Director, RNAIPL, said: “RNAIPL is committed to reducing the environmental impact of our operations and last year, we announced our comprehensive plan for achieving carbon neutral operations by the year 2045 and becoming water positive by the year 2030. Our latest green energy milestone, with an average use of 85 per cent green energy in the second half of 2023, demonstrates our unwavering dedication to sustainability.” 

RNAIPL uses a three-pillared approach as part of its roadmap to carbon neutrality. These pillars are increasing the share of green energy in the overall mix, aggressively improving efficiencies in energy usage and continuous adoption of energy efficient technology at its Oragadam plant. 

RNAIPL’s energy portfolio includes a mix of conventional power supplied by the government and various green power sources such as solar power, wind power, and bagasse/cogen power. RNAIPL has plans to transition to 100 per cent consistent renewable energy usage by 2045.

In addition to renewable energy, the plant is implementing several other strategies to reduce its environmental impact. Water management through rainwater harvesting, effective recycling and reuse of wastewater as well as rejuvenation of water bodies in the community are part of RNAIPL’s plan to achieve Water Positive status by 2030. At this time, RNAIPL will be releasing more water back to the environment than it extracts. The plant is also actively working on reducing the energy utilised to manufacture a car. Between 2019 and 2030, the plant is working on achieving a 20 per cent reduction in energy required for producing one vehicle. This will be reduced by a further 30 per cent by 2045.