Swaraj Tractors and Mahindra Susten have commissioned a 42 MWp group captive solar project in Bathinda, Punjab, to supply renewable electricity to Swaraj Tractors’ manufacturing, assembly and foundry operations in Mohali. The project is expected to meet around 50% of the electricity requirements of Swaraj Tractors’ manufacturing facilities and is among the largest group captive solar installations of its kind in Punjab.
Developed and commissioned by Mahindra Susten, the project is spread across approximately 141 acres in Village Teona Pujarian, Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda. It uses high-efficiency N-Type TOPCon bifacial solar modules mounted on fixed-tilt structures.
The facility is expected to generate around 61.54 million units of renewable electricity annually and offset more than 42,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year. The remaining capacity is proposed to be used to support the renewable electricity requirements of other Mahindra Group entities in Punjab.
“Nearly half a century ago, Swaraj was founded on the principles of self-reliance and independence. At a time when India is reducing its dependence on fossil fuels, Swaraj is proud to contribute by reducing energy consumption and progressively replacing conventional sources with renewable energy,” said Gaganjot Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Swaraj Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
Mr Singh said the company is complementing its energy-efficiency initiatives by sourcing more than half of its energy requirements from renewable sources. Swaraj was also recognised with the Golden Peacock Award for Energy Efficiency earlier this year.
Avinash Rao, Managing Director and CEO, Mahindra Susten, said the project marks Mahindra Susten’s first initiative to supply power to commercial and industrial customers through a group captive structure, alongside its traditional business of supplying power to government utilities.
More than 97% of the project’s components have been sourced from India, supporting domestic manufacturing and the country’s renewable energy supply chain. Semi-automated robotic systems will be used to clean the solar modules and are expected to save around 1.92 million litres of water annually.
Swaraj has also taken several measures to improve energy and resource efficiency. In 2023, all its tractor manufacturing plants achieved EP100 certification for doubling energy productivity. Its manufacturing facilities are water positive and certified as Zero Waste to Landfill, while its foundry was the first foundry operation in India to receive Zero Waste to Landfill certification.
The company is also working to reduce product-related Scope 3 emissions, support supplier decarbonisation, expand green dealership programmes and strengthen ESG capabilities. Mahindra Susten is the renewable energy platform and Independent Power Producer of the Mahindra Group. Its portfolio includes solar, hybrid renewable energy projects and Battery Energy Storage Systems.
