Alibaug

444,000

AURANGABAD

ALIBAUG

Pune

Aurangabad

8.5

0.98

15*

30*

9,000*

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