We Plan to Expand Our Renewable Energy Mix Further: Rahul Sharma, CEO – Aluminium Business, Vedanta – EQ Mag Pro
He said the company is also looking to partner with extruders, downstream manufacturers catering to the solar industry.
New Delhi: Vedanta Aluminium has plans to expand its renewable energy mix and is evaluating on-site generation and use of clean energy at their alumina refinery and smelter operations, Rahul Sharma, chief executive officer, Aluminium Business, Vedanta, told ETEnergyWorld.
Vedanta Aluminium had recently procured 354 million units of solar and non-solar renewable energy primarily at the Indian Energy Exchange Green Market, for its facility at Jharsuguda, in Odisha. This purchase resulted in the reduction of about 0.28 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent for the firm.
Aluminium is used in most clean energy technologies but especially solar, where it accounts for 85 per cent of most photovoltaic components in the form of the frames and mounting structures that hold the PV panels together and support them.
“We aim to become a fully integrated and sustainable producer of aluminium. For this, we are leveraging innovation and digitalisation across their operations… We continue to be focused on expanding our value-added aluminium products and alloys portfolio,” said Sharma.
He said that the company is committed to providing high-quality products made from Aluminium for building India’s renewable energy infrastructure.
“We are looking to partner with extruders and downstream manufacturers catering to the solar industry, and support them with top-quality raw material,” he said.
Sharma added that the company has proposed the creation of an Aluminium Park at Jharsuguda, Odisha, which has the potential to support a downstream ecosystem catering to multiple industries, renewable energy included.
“Our increasing share of RE is helping us steadily reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity… We plan on increasing our share of renewable energy consumption over the years across all of our operations,” Sharma added.
The company also aims to invest in expanding their alumina refinery to provide feedstock to smelters and expand smelting capacity for which they have investment plans.
Source: PTI
