One of India’s leading information technology and consultancy companies, Infosys, is planning to implement of the most significant sustainability and clean energy measures in the company’s glorious history.
The company is in the planning stages of implementing a 50 MW solar PV project in Karnataka. This would be a first for a software company in India. The company has contacted the state government and has put forward a proposal to set up a solar park. The proposal comes only days after the state government announced its revised solar power policy which encourage investment by private companies in developing captive power infrastructure.
Infosys has been a leader when it comes to investing in sustainable infrastructure. The company, in its sustainability report for FY2013-14 (pdf), reported that its electricity intensity has been reduced by 43.6% from a 2008 baseline and 2 MW capacity of solar power projects have already been commissioned at Chennai and Hyderabad. The company intends to install 200 MW of solar power capacity in the coming few years.
During FY2013-14, the company procured 75.6 million kWh of electricity from renewable energy sources, accounting for 30% of the total electricity requirement.
These measures are inline with the company’s target to become carbon neutral by 2017 by offsetting its carbon emissions. It plans to reduce its per capita energy consumption and source all electricity from renewable energy sources by 2017.
The company has implemented several energy efficiency measures at its campuses. These include insulated walls as well as glazed windows to increase daylight and reduce demand for artificial lighting. It has also set up sensors to monitor real-time data on energy consumption.
According to newspaper reports, Infosys pays Rs 5.65 per kWh for electricity while the electricity generated from the proposed solar power plant is expected to cost Rs 3 per kWh after taking into account the incentives offered by the state and, possibly, central government.
The 50 MW solar PV project is expected to generate about 83.2 million kWh of electricity every year and would meet about 87% of the company’s electricity demand at Karnataka offices. Thus, the company would save Rs 220.5 million or US $3.6 million every year.
Infosys’ Executive Vice President stated that the company is planning to build solar power plants to achieve self-sufficiency in power generation. This is crucial for an IT company that is bound by critical deadlines to deliver solutions to its customers. Companies across south India have been long grappling with the issue of poor electricity supply, so it makes perfect sense for them to invest in long-term solutions like their own solar power plants.
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