AstraZeneca India launches its in-house solar 0.5 MW project as part of its `Ambition Zero Carbon’ initiative. This is in line with its target to make the company’s operations responsible for zero carbon emissions without relying on offset schemes.

This year the company accelerated the renewable energy productivity targets in power and heat by installing more than 1,176 solar panels at its factory premises to reduce the overall carbon footprint. This 588KWp solar array will generate 900,000 KWh per annum that will provide 12 to 15% of the energy requirement at its manufacturing site at Bengaluru. This will also result in the reduction of more than 20,000 tons of CO2 emission over the system’s lifetime. With this installation, more than 90% of the manufacturing site’s energy requirements are now being provided vide solar power.

Commenting on the occasion, Gagan Singh Bedi, Managing Director – AstraZeneca India, said, "We are happy to continue our energy sustainability goals to meet a zero carbon emission organisation by 2025. We have fast-tracked our sustainability goals to meet the global demand to minimise carbon emissions and global warming that has been affecting many communities around the world.”

The 'Ambition Zero Carbon' accelerates a plan launched in 2015 to reduce AstraZeneca's carbon footprint, with targets validated in accordance with climate change research. AstraZeneca will shift 100 per cent of its energy use to renewable sources for both power and heat by 2025 in order to achieve carbon neutrality.

Speaking on the initiative, Mina Patel, Site head – AstraZeneca India, said, " the commitment made today by AstraZeneca as part of our 'Ambition Zero Carbon' plan will allow us to accelerate the reduction of our organisation's climate footprint. This step will also be the way for more companies to warm up to the need to build a more sustainable renewable energy source that will support the national and global sustainability goals. It gives me great pleasure to have instituted the program at our Bengaluru plant and contribute towards the company's global goal of 100% carbon neutrality by 2025."