For the first time since RE100 began outreach in India last year, RE100 has connected with corporates in Bengaluru; the capital of India’s southern Karnataka state and the hub of India’s high-tech industry.
Global cloud services corporation Wipro Limited and leading multinational company Tata Global Beverages were among the attendees of the Green Power Market Development Group Steering Committee meeting; jointly organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry and the World Resources Institute.
Speakers included Rashi Gupta, India Partnership Manager, The Climate Group; Shailesh Telang, Senior Project Officer CDP India; S Chandrasekhar, Chairman, Energy & Power Sub-Committee CII Southern Region and Managing Director, Bhoruka Power Corporation Limited; and Nisha Jayaram, of CII Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre.
Rashi Gupta shared the global success of the RE100 campaign, led by The Climate Group in partnership with CDP. There are now 83 members of RE100, all committed to transitioning their electricity supplies to 100% renewable energy. Infosys was the first Indian company to join the initiative, followed by Tata Motors Limited and Dalmia Cement this year. Many more are expected to follow.
Anurag Priyadarshi, Global Sustainability Manager at Tata Global Beverages said there was much excitement at the company over the potential for renewable energy, right along its supply chain.
Corporates are however facing challenges in going 100% renewable in India, such as lengthy timescales for government approval on renewable energy projects, a lack of long-term policy stability, and practicalities around implementation. These challenges were discussed during a panel discussion between corporate energy buyers and developers.
Rashi Gupta, India Partnership Manager at The Climate Group, said: “Leading companies realise that renewable energy benefits their reputations and that it can bring much-needed cost savings too. RE100 provides a platform for companies in India to showcase their ambition and progress, while sending a clear message to governments and investors that renewables are good for business.”
Later this month Tata Motors will be guest speaking on a RE100 webinar designed to provide peer-to-peer learning for corporates wanting to source renewables in India. For more information on the opportunities in India’s changing market place, read our RE100 briefing.