Headquartered in New South Wales, Australia and a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd., mining equipment parts manufacturer Bradken Pty. Ltd., has invested 0.49% and 0.19% in Dalavaipuram Renewables Private Limited and Watsun Infrabuild Private Limited respectively, through SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) of the solar and wind power generating Continuum Green Energy (India) Group (Continuum), for the purpose of reducing CO2 emissions at its Coimbatore facility in India.
As a result, approximately 13.8 GWh per year, corresponding to around 47% of the electricity consumption at the Coimbatore facility, will be covered by the solar and wind power generation supplied by Continuum. Together with the 36% of renewable electricity that was previously introduced and includes the electricity generated by solar power from the photovoltaic specialist Enerparc AG Group, which was externally announced in December 2022, the ratio of renewable electricity across the entire Coimbatore facility will increase up to the total contracted quantity of 83% and reduce annual CO2 emissions by approximately 19,200 tonnes.
Accompanying its economic growth, demand for electric power in India is expected to grow at an annual average rate of around 4–5% (Forecast by Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and JMK Research) until 2030, but chronic electricity shortages often lead to disrupted power supplies. In addition, air pollution caused by coal-fired power generation and automobile exhaust emissions is a major problem. Under these circumstances, the Indian government has set a goal of 60% of the total power generating capacity from renewable sources, with plans to introduce 450 GW (510 GW if 60 GW of hydroelectric power is included) by 2030 to promote introduction of renewable energy.
The Hitachi Construction Machinery Group has set a goal of reducing CO2 emissions in its production process by 45% (compared to FY2010 levels) by FY2030. In addition, the group is aiming to achieve carbon neutrality across its entire value chain by 2050 – and will continue to promote environmentally conscious manufacturing at all foreign and domestic production sites and group companies.
