- Vedanta increases round-the-clock RE capacity to over 1.03 GW of renewable energy in FY25 that will enable significant mitigation of emissions from operations in the coming years
- Committed to Net Zero emissions by 2050
On World Environment Day, Vedanta Limited (NSE: VEDL), India’s only and the world’s leading transition metals, critical minerals, energy and technology conglomerate, announced that it has increased its renewable energy round-the-clock equivalent power capacity to 1.03 GW (gigawatt) through power delivery agreements. The company is on track to achieve 2.5 GW of renewable energy by 2030, towards the ambitious target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner. The renewable energy projects include a mix of wind, solar and pump storage technologies. The 1 GW renewable energy will potentially enable Vedanta to mitigate more than 6 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. This is roughly equivalent to carbon sequestration by nearly 350 million trees annually.
Vedanta is India’s largest producer of energy transition metals and critical minerals with more than 4.5 million tonnes of annual production of aluminium, zinc, lead, silver, copper, nickel, ferrochrome and pig iron. Vedanta’s diversified portfolio of essential metals is instrumental in meeting the growing demand for renewable energy infrastructure, electric vehicles, and advanced technologies. With a growing portfolio of low-carbon products in Aluminium (Restora and Restora Ultra) and Zinc (EcoZen), Vedanta’s products are bolstering India’s clean energy ambitions.
Vedanta’s own decarbonization strategy works on the four levers of – renewable energy scale-up, switching to low-carbon fuels, energy and process efficiency, and carbon offsets. Vedanta has more than 350 high-impact environmental initiatives ongoing across various businesses. Highlights of the company’s environmental performance include:
- Utilisation of 2.61 Billion Units (BU) of renewable energy
- Deployment of one of the country’s largest fleets of lithium-ion forklifts in aluminium production plants, integrated LNG powered trucks for logistics and India’s first battery operated vehicles in underground zinc mining
- Utilised 44,000 tonnes of biomass, and has enabled the establishment of Punjab’s biggest torrefied bio-pellets manufacturing facility in Mansa (Bhatinda district)
- Planted nearly 3 million trees since 2021 as part of the World Economic Forum’s 1 trillion trees movement
- 3 of Vedanta’s businesses are water positive: Hindustan Zinc, Cairn Oil & Gas, Sesa Iron Ore Business
- 3 business units are also single-use plastic free: TSPL, Cairn Oil & Gas and VGCB
Sharing her thoughts, Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director – Vedanta Limited & Chairperson – Hindustan Zinc Limited, said, “Our integrated approach to resource management and sustainability is central to Vedanta’s vision of transforming for a sustainable future. As the Indian economy expands, Vedanta is undergoing a transformation that will support the rapidly growing needs of the economy. By expanding our production of critical minerals and investing in renewable energy, we are powering global efforts to combat climate change.”
Commemorating World Environment Day, Vedanta kicked off a mass plantation drive across Rajasthan, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Goa and other states, reinforcing its commitment to fostering environmental stewardship across its operations and beyond. The company organised a week-long series of engaging activities at its business units such as quizzes, drawing competitions, sapling distributions and ecofriendly cricket tournaments, aimed to foster environmental awareness and action among its stakeholders across its operational areas.
Vedanta has been rewarded with the prestigious (B) rating by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) for its excellent efforts in water security and climate change, demonstrating its strong commitment to sustainability. In addition, the company’s aluminium and zinc product portfolios are Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) verified, thereby offering transparent data on environmental footprint. Vedanta’s aluminium business is part of the international Aluminium Stewardship Initiative for responsible sourcing of raw materials and sustainable manufacturing.
Vedanta Limited is a global leader in critical minerals, energy and technology operating a diverse portfolio of world-class assets. It is the world’s largest integrated producer of zinc, the fourth-largest global producer of silver, amongst the world’s top aluminium producers, India’s only private oil and gas producer, and one of its largest private power producers. With an eye on the future, the company is strategically expanding its business portfolio by venturing into rare earths, other critical minerals, and renewable energy.