CorporateSiemens to grow its environmental portfolio
Siemens, the German engineering giant, says it plans to expand its green energy portfolio to enable ¤25 billion (approximately Rs 1,74,339 crore) savings globally by 2011, with significant carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction from its products and processes in key markets, including India.
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“In fiscal 2009, Siemens generated revenue of ¤23 billion with products and solutions from its environmental portfolio. The green portfolio has grown by 11 per cent by comparison with the previous fiscal, when its revenue was ¤20.7 billion,” Barbara Kux, chief sustainability officer and director of Siemens AG told Business Standard.
The annual CO2 savings are projected to be at least 300 million tonnes in financial year 2011, which roughly corresponds to the current emissions of six major cities – New York, Tokyo, London, Singapore, Hong Kong and Rome.
In India, the company’s Talcher-Kolar (East-South) high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line is saving over a million tonnes of CO2, it says. Further, the Ballia - Bhiwadi HVDC project being built for Power Grid Corporation of India is expected to reduce transmission losses by 37 per cent and reduce CO2 emissions by 688,000 tonnes per annum.
It has just won its first private sector HVDC project from Adani Power (phase-1 is under construction) and would be saving approximately 600,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. The company also says it has provided the propulsion system and electrical equipments for Mumbai suburban trains, which helps to save up to 30 per cent energy.
“Our green products and solutions are contributing to stabilising our business during the economic crisis,” said Barbara Kux. Energy-saving motors, solar inverter systems and selected components for energy-saving building technology were among the products added to the portfolio.
In 2009, Siemens customers worldwide were able to reduce their CO2 emissions by 210 million tonnes with products and solutions from the Siemens Environmental Portfolio, which the company first defined in 2007. This amount is equal to the annual CO2 emissions of New York, Tokyo, London and Berlin put together, it says with pride.
Siemens’ Environmental Portfolio spans sectors such as industry, energy and healthcare. The company’s gas turbines, retrofitting of older power plants, wind power systems, energy-efficient lighting and ecofriendly trains contribute toward reducing CO2 emissions, said Kux.
To qualify for inclusion in the Portfolio, a product must reduce greenhouse gas emissions, combat water and air pollution. The Portfolio’s revenue and CO2 savings are reviewed by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The review is based on the criteria defined in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Initiative of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the World Resources Institute.