The wind now generates 46 percent of the power needed to keep Danfoss’ factory in Chennai, India, running. That’s the result after the factory signed an agreement with a private wind power company earlier this year.
In the area where the windmills are located, there is enough wind to provide Danfoss with electric power for roughly eight months a year. This means that the Chennai factory can substantially cut its use of electricity generated by traditional power plants which burn fossil fuels such as coal, oil or diesel.
The amount of fossil fuel which Danfoss saves thanks to the agreement equals 157 tanker trucks worth of gasoline. That’s 5,100 tons of CO2 saved each year.
“Naturally, we are proud of this. Our goal is a power supply relying 100 percent on renewable energy. And this new agreement marks an important step in that direction,” says Project & Facility Manager R. Janarthanan.
Danfoss in Chennai already has solar cells installed on the roofs and ground areas. The installations supply 14 percent of the factory’s annual power need. So, now, the wind and sun together cover 60 percent.
“But 60 percent is not enough when your aim is 100 percent. That’s why we are currently in discussions with different external suppliers about further wind, solar or biomass energy supplies. I am confident that we will reach our 100 percent goal,” explains R. Janarthanan.
The factory in Chennai is Platinum LEED certified. LEED, short for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is one of the most widely used green-building rating systems. To reach Platinum level, a building must live up to very tough requirements with respect to energy efficiency, cost efficiency, and a healthy indoor climate.
Facts
In 2030, Danfoss will use half as much energy to keep our production lines and business running as we did in 2007. That’s one of the key goals in our ambitious “Climate Strategy 2030”. To achieve this, we have initiated several measures to further reduce our energy consumption and drive greener technology investments in buildings and processes. Read more here.
For more information:
R. Janarthanan, Projects & Facilities Manager, Danfoss, Chennai, India:
E-mail: jana@danfoss.com
Phone: +91 44 67151648