Situated in Oragadam, Chennai, Renault Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd (RNAIPL) has made significant progress in its efforts to achieve carbon-neutral operations. In the latter half of 2023, the plant predominantly utilized green power, consistently exceeding 85% green energy usage monthly and reaching 100% in September 2023.
Renault Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd (RNAIPL) is a leading automobile manufacturing company in India, formed as a joint venture between Renault SA of France and Nissan Motor Co Ltd of Japan. Established in 2008, RNAIPL operates a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, with an annual production capacity of 480,000 units.
The company produces a range of vehicles, including passenger cars, utility vehicles, and electric vehicles, under the Renault and Nissan brands. RNAIPL is committed to delivering high-quality, innovative vehicles that meet the needs of Indian consumers while contributing to the growth and development of the Indian automotive industry.
Keerthi Prakash, Managing Director of RNAIPL, underscored the company’s dedication to environmental sustainability, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2045 and water positivity by 2030. To achieve carbon neutrality, the organization follows a three-pronged strategy, which involves boosting the use of green energy, improving energy efficiency, and adopting energy-efficient technologies.
Renault Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd’s energy mix includes traditional government-provided power as well as renewable sources such as solar, wind, and bagasse/cogen power. By 2045, the company aims to shift entirely to renewable energy, utilizing both its own solar plant and external suppliers.
The current in-house solar plant contributes 2.2 MW of power, with plans to expand to 14 MW in the future. RNAIPL also supplements its green energy supply by sourcing power from wind farms in Tirunelveli/Coimbatore and solar farms in the Tirupur region. From July to December 2023, the plant successfully lowered CO2 emissions by more than 30,000 tons, highlighting the effectiveness of its environmentally friendly energy programs.
To meet sustainability objectives, the company employs several tactics such as rainwater collection, recycling wastewater, and restoring community water bodies. These efforts aim to attain a Water Positive status by 2030. Additionally, the plant is dedicated to cutting energy use. It aims to reduce the energy needed for vehicle production by 20% from 2019 to 2030, followed by an additional 30% decrease by 2045.
