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    1. Energy Efficiency

    Indian aluminum firm reduces GHG intensity by 12% at its largest smelter

    June 9, 2022
    Climate action initiatives include the launch of ‘green’ aluminum, signing of a renewable energy supply agreement and the use of battery-powered forklifts
    Photo by Grigorenko, Dreamstime.
    An aluminum smelting operation.
    An aluminum smelting operation.

    Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, has reduced GHG intensity at its largest aluminum smelter by around 12% in FY22 over the last fiscal year, while production volume increased by 20%.

    The reduction has been achieved through the adoption of a multi-pronged approach to combat climate change. Its climate action initiatives include:

    • The launch of India’s first low carbon ‘green’ aluminium ‘Restora’ with a carbon footprint nearly half that of the global threshold of 4 tons of CO2 equivalent per ton of aluminum
    • The signing a 380 MW Power Delivery Agreement for renewable energy for its aluminum smelters
    • Commissioning of the largest industrial electric fleet in India comprising 27 battery-powered forklifts
    • Expansion of its existing carbon sink with 4 lakh more saplings planted

    The initiatives have led to energy savings of 23 lakh Giga Joules in the fiscal year 2022.

    Rahul Sharma, CEO – Aluminium Business, Vedanta Limited, said, “Being India’s largest producer of aluminum, we firmly believe in our role as climate action stewards while being industry leaders. We have set ambitious targets for ourselves on our road to Net Zero Carbon by 2050, with the first milestone being 25% reduction in GHG emissions intensity by 2030. We have adopted a 360-degree approach to sustainable development, which includes products, processes, technology, policy and partnerships. We believe our actions will help build a net-zero climate-resilient business, while creating virtuous circles of sustainable growth, jobs and opportunities – for us, our stakeholders, the nation and world at large.”

    Over the past year, the firm has focused on reducing carbon emissions, adopting renewable energy, improving biodiversity and air, water and waste management. For instance, MoUs were signed to develop ways to use industrial by-products like fly-ash and bauxite-residue.

    The firm has committed to reduce GHG emissions intensity by 25% by 2030 over the FY21 baseline. Between 2012 and 2021, Vedanta Aluminium has reduced GHG emissions intensity by 21% while production almost tripled. 

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.