Hindustan Zinc enters renewable energy, merges with Serentica for 450 MW, ET EnergyWorld

New Delhi: In a groundbreaking initiative to strengthen sustainable industrial practices, Hindustan Zinc, India’s leading zinc producer and the world’s second largest, has announced the launch of a major renewable energy project. The company has begun integrating renewable energy into its operations across Rajasthan through a partnership with Serentica Renewables, a leading renewable energy developer in India. Under the agreement, Serentica will provide Hindustan Zinc with 450 MW of round-the-clock renewable energy, a significant step towards reducing the carbon footprint of its operations. The project began with the commissioning of a 180 MW solar power project from Serentica’s Bikaner Power Park. This initiative not only underscores Hindustan Zinc’s commitment to sustainable mining practices but also positions it as a pioneer within the Vedanta group in terms of renewable energy adoption.

The integration of this renewable energy is expected to reduce Hindustan Zinc’s CO2 emissions by about 0.45 million tonnes per annum. This is part of a broader strategy to transform energy consumption patterns, significantly shifting from conventional fuel sources to greener alternatives. Spread over 1,200 acres, the Bikaner Power Park plays a key role in this transformation, promising to reduce CO2 emissions by 2.7 million tonnes per annum once fully operational.

Arun Misra, CEO of Hindustan Zinc, highlighted the company’s sustainable vision, stating, “At Hindustan Zinc, sustainability drives our business decisions, which is in line with our goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050 or earlier. This project not only propels us towards reducing our dependence on conventional energy, but also marks a significant step forward in our journey towards complete decarbonization of our operations.”

Commenting further on the initiative, Akshay Hiranandani, CEO, Serentica Renewables, highlighted the timely completion of the project and its broader implications for the clean energy landscape in India. “The successful and timely commissioning of the first phase in Bikaner underscores our commitment to spearhead the clean energy transformation in India. We now look forward to scaling up this initiative to wind power, thereby showcasing our innovative hybrid multi-site model,” he said.

This renewable energy project is in line with Hindustan Zinc’s strategic goals set in 2022, when the company committed to a global movement to make India ‘Net Zero’. It has set ambitious targets, including a 50% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Last year, the company reported a 14% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity compared to a 2020 baseline, driven by improved operational efficiencies and adoption of advanced technologies.