Alibaug
444,000
AURANGABAD
Aurangabad
8.5
0.98
15*
30*
9,000*
ALIBAUG
Pune
922*
is the installed capacity
of 25,770 photovoltaic
roof modules
PUNE
up to this percentage
of total consumption
is covered by “green”
energy
tonnes of carbon
dioxide emissions will be
reduced per year
is the installed power
3,492 roof panels in the
parking lot
up to this percentage
of the plant’s annual
electricity consumption
will be covered from this
source
tonnes of carbon dioxide
emissions will be reduced
per year
RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS
NATURE IN INDIA
THE CZECH CARMAKER’S ACTIVITIES ON THE SUBCONTINENT HIGHLIGHT
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
A
s part of its Green Future strategy, ŠKODA AUTO Volkswagen India Private Limited
(SAVWIPL) is supporting a whole range
of environmental activities. One such
project at the Pune site includes putting
up some of the largest roof-top photovoltaic (solar) panels in the country. They
not only produce renewable energy but
also help to insulate the factory buildings. The carmaker had already installed
solar panels at its other site, in Aurangabad, where, in addition to their main
purpose, they were installed in the roof
of the car park to provide shade. “Complementing the environmental benefits
of renewable energy, the lighting systems in both facilities were renovated to
be as efficient as possible; they combine
energy-saving LEDs and natural light to
maximise energy savings on sunny days
when there is a minimal need to use light
inside the factory buildings”, says Helena
16
ŠKODA MOBIL AUGUST 2020
Kotková from GRI – India Region Management. The company is also planning
to recover about 70 percent of steam
and waste heat from an electrodeposition oven and reuse it for the hot water
circuit. On top of all these environmental
initiatives, SAVWIPL has taken a number of steps to assist with water conservation – by investing in water recycling
technology and preserving rain water
run-off in its facilities to make its operations’ water use net-positive.
Helping the landscape and people
Another interesting project supported
by SAVWIPL involves the restoration of
damaged mangrove forests in Alibaug,
where the carmaker is preserving existing trees and planting new ones. “We are
contributing 30.8 million Indian rupees
to this project over the next seven years
(more than CZK 9 million – ed.)”, says
Kotková. Mangroves act as a bio-shield
protecting the shorelines from erosion
and providing breeding areas for aquatic
animals and are vital to sustaining coastal fishing areas. They support the environment by removing up to four times
more carbon dioxide than terrestrial forests do. SAVWIPL will work closely with
the Mangrove Foundation to improve the
mangrove ecosystem, which will lead to
healthy fishery and fertile land supporting
the fishermen and farmers in and around
the area.
In December 2019, SAVWIPL also inaugurated an ‘Oxygen Park’ (a densely planted urban forest) in the industrial sector of Aurangabad. More than
15,000 shrubs and trees are growing there, which fundamentally balances CO2 emissions in this area. The park
is also a source of livelihood for the local community of socially disadvantaged
women who care for the trees and flowers. RANI TOLIMAT
Sanjay Khare
SAVWIPL BOARD MEMBER
FOR SUSTAINABILITY,
SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT
Sustainability is one of the
most important demands
at the moment. Without it,
life and work do not make
sense. ŠKODA AUTO knows
this very well. Our strategy
motivates us to establish top
personal mobility solutions for
the current and future world
with a minimal impact on the
environment and a positive
impact on society and regional
development. ŠKODA is one
of the most respected brands
in the Czech Republic, and we
are working to achieve this
position in the Indian region
as well.
You can find the photo
gallery online version
of ŠKODA Mobile on
www.skodamobil.cz
Editor’s note: * The data hold for a full utilisation of production capacities
mangrove seedlings were
planted by 300 locals
to restore 100 hectares
of forest