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India
Achieving Harmony with the environment
Climate changes are disrupting national economies and affecting lives, costing people, communities, and countries. India occupies only 2.4% of the world's land area yet sustains a proportionately much higher 16.9%(1) of the total population of the world. The country's unprecedented growth trajectory has significantly escalated the consumption of its natural resources and its impact on the nation's environment.
According to a study, India, on one hand is witnessing remarkable growth in industry and consumer sector, and on the other hand the nations natural assets are declining rapidly couldn't find new data - squandering an estimated $80 billion per year or nearly 5.7% of its economy(2) on account of environmental degradation. According to a study, 22 of world's 30 most polluted cities in the world are in India.(2)
Responding to such an alarming situation, the government of India adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.
Aligning with the government's vision, Hitachi through its Social Innovation Business has been consistently enhancing affordable, scalable solutions to leap to cleaner, more resilient economy. Hitachi has been significantly magnifying society's environmental values and enterprise growth by cocreating innovative and advanced, comprehensive IT X OT solutions, practices, and products that are environmentally conscious and efficient.
Green Energy
Energy is fundamental to nearly every major challenge and opportunity the society faces today. It is one of the critical sectors identified by the government where production from traditional fossil fuels is increasingly harming the environment along with effecting loss of natural resources. Therefore, converging on universal access to energy, improved energy efficiency, and renewable energy solutions is crucial. The measures will create a sustainable society and inclusive communities and build resilience to environmental issues like climate change.
Hitachi Hi-Rel Power Electronics Pvt. Ltd. (HHPE), a Hitachi group company, is co-creating green energy solutions that are helping customers harness the abundantly available solar energy to meet the continuously rising demand for electricity in an environmentally responsible way. Hitachi Hi-Rel is committed to contribute over 8 GW installed capacity by 2020 and step up further to meet National Solar Mission's vision of mobilizing infrastructure to create 100 Giga Watts by 2022.(3)
Changing Economies
For India, the third-largest consumer of electricity globally, the transition to clean and green solar energy would not just translate to conserving the environment and a better quality of life but would effectively help reduce the country's massive oil import bill. The outcome can be remarkably high as by 2035, the demand for primary energy in India is expected to increase threefold to 1,516 million tons of oil.(4)
Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery Pvt. Ltd. (THCM), a Hitachi group company envisaged reducing its Dharwad plant's carbon footprint in pursuance and contribution to SDGs (Goal 13), by taking adequate measures to reduce emissions. As a leading construction and mining machinery manufacturer in India, THCM estimated that with an expansion plan in production, the CO2 emission of its Dharwad plant might spiral by a whopping 150% by 2022.
On recognizing that 77% of the projected Carbon generated would result from power consumption, the management resolutely initiated the transition from traditional source to clean and green source like solar power. The results were unprecedented. THCM not just reduced the facility's carbon emission by 74% but achieved a 23% reduction in power bill. The success of the initiative becomes an inspiration for other industry members to follow and make the desired change to a cleaner energy source like solar power.
However, the question is far from being answered, and there is a continuous need for more access to clean fuel and technology, and more progress is required regarding the integration of sustainable energy solutions into enduse applications in buildings, transport, and industry.
Enduring Collaborative Efforts
With higher disposable income, the automotive industry in the country has witnessed astronomical growth. It is projected to grow into the world's third-largest passenger-vehicle market by 2021.(5) Given the present vehicular density and the future escalation, the policymakers recognized the importance to raise the performance levels of the automobiles to global standards.
Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd., a Hitachi group company, as a leading manufacturer of a diverse range of automotive solutions, is helping customers meet the stringent BS6 emission norms by 2020.
Hitachi's revolutionary Valve Timing Control (VTC) is a small yet significant contributor in enhancing the efficiency of the vehicle. By augmenting the overall efficiency of the car, the VTC helps reduce fuel consumption. This effectively leads to conservation of valuable natural resources and reduction in vehicular emission.
Guided by 2021 Mid-Term Management Plan that is consistent with the direction of Sustainable Development Goals, Hitachi Social Innovation Business will continue significantly to resolve social and environmental issue by developing new technologies and solutions and establish an inclusive, harmonious, and prosperous sustainable society.
Source:
1- http://censusindia.gov.in/Census_And_You/area_and_population.aspx
2- https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/mar/05/india-home-to-22-of-worlds-30-most-polluted-cities-greenpeace-says
3- https://social-innovation.hitachi/en-in/knowledge-hub/collaborate/powering-india?WT.mc_id=18InEnIl-RB-indianbureaucracy
4- https://www.ibef.org/industry/oil-gas-india.aspx
5- https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/automotive-and-assembly/our-insights/the-future-of-mobility-in-indias-passenger-vehicle-market