Tata Motors and Tata Power have inaugurated a 6.2MW solar carport at the former’s car manufacturing factory in Chikhali, Pune.

The two Tata Group companies said that it is the largest grid-synchronized, behind-the-meter solar carport in India.

Dr. Praveer Sinha – CEO and MD of Tata Power said: “As One Tata initiative, we are proud to partner with Tata Motors and inaugurate India’s largest solar carport. Our partnership is a testament to our collective efforts to lower the carbon footprint and provide innovative and future-focused green energy solutions.

“We will continue to explore new ways to harness clean resources and offer them to our partners and customers.”

The solar carport can generate 86.4 lakh kWh of power annually and is estimated to offset 7,000 tons of carbon emissions per year and 1.6 lakh tons through its lifecycle.

Spread over 30,000 square meters, the carport apart from producing renewable power will also give covered parking for finished cars in the factory.

As part of its net zero carbon target for 2039, Tata Motors had signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Tata Power in August 2020.

The firms said that in spite of the challenges caused by Covid-19, they could develop the carport infrastructure in 9.5 months.

Shailesh Chandra – President, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors said: “At Tata Motors, we have consciously anchored sustainability in every aspect of our business by striving for more meaningful ways to reduce our impact on the planet, whilst providing exciting products and sustainable solutions to our customers.

“We have always been conscious of the need to conserve energy and are committed towards achieving 100% renewable energy source for all our operations. Our partnership with Tata Power to deploy India’s largest solar carport at our car plant in Pune is a step in that direction.”

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