Swaraj Tractors, part of the Mahindra Group, and Mahindra Susten, the group’s renewable energy platform and independent power producer, commissioned a 42 MWp group captive solar project in Bathinda, Punjab, India. The project is among the largest group captive solar installations of its kind in the state.

The project is expected to meet around 50% of the electricity requirements of Swaraj Tractors’ manufacturing facilities, marking a major milestone in the company’s broader strategy to build a future-ready, low-carbon manufacturing ecosystem aligned with the Mahindra Group’s sustainability commitments.

Developed and commissioned by Mahindra Susten, the solar project will supply renewable electricity to Swaraj Tractors’ manufacturing, assembly and foundry operations in Mohali, Punjab. Spread across approximately 141 acres (56 hectares) , the installation comprises high-efficiency N-Type TOPCon bifacial solar modules mounted on fixed-tilt structures. The project’s residual capacity is proposed to be used to green the electricity consumption of other Mahindra Group entities located in Punjab.

Swaraj’s sustainability journey extends beyond renewable energy adoption. In 2023, all Swaraj tractor manufacturing plants achieved EP100 certification for doubling energy productivity, seven years ahead of the Mahindra Group’s commitment timeline. The facility is expected to generate approximately 61.54 million units of renewable electricity annually and offset more than 42,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

The project also reflects a strong commitment to domestic sourcing, with more than 97% of its components sourced from within India. This supports the country’s renewable energy manufacturing ecosystem and the broader vision of self-reliant growth. Semi-automated robotic systems will be used to clean the solar modules, helping the project save an estimated 1.92 million litres of water annually.

Environmental and social impact assessments, along with a climate change assessment, were undertaken during the project’s development. Measures have also been introduced to manage waste, regulate vehicle movement and minimise disturbance to the surrounding ecology. Mahindra Susten is the Mahindra Group’s renewable energy platform and a leading Independent Power Producer. With a strong portfolio of operational and under-construction renewable energy projects, supported by an ambitious development pipeline, Mahindra Susten is helping advance India’s clean energy transition.

The company’s capabilities extend beyond solar energy to hybrid renewable energy solutions and Battery Energy Storage Systems, enabling reliable, flexible and future-ready renewable energy integration. Mahindra Susten is also a co-sponsor of Sustainable Energy Infra Trust, a renewable energy-focused Infrastructure Investment Trust listed on the NSE. Swaraj contributes significantly to the Mahindra Group’s Farm Equipment Business ambition of achieving threefold revenue growth during this decade.

All Swaraj manufacturing plants are water positive and certified as Zero Waste to Landfill facilities. Swaraj’s foundry was also the first foundry operation in India to achieve Zero Waste to Landfill certification. Looking ahead, the company is focusing on reducing product-related Scope 3 emissions, accelerating supplier decarbonisation, building ESG capabilities, expanding green dealership programmes and strengthening diversity across its operations.

Highlights

“Agricultural robots” today at Agritechnica digital

“Agricultural robots” is the first topic in new webinar series on startup technologies, presented in Agritechnica digital. Free-to-attend ‘AgTech’ events explore topics shaping startup innovation scene: robotics, digitalization, circular economy and soil health. Today, 18 January 2022, Agritechnica ...

“Let the future begin”

The global ag machinery market is continuously evolving. AGCO aims to be in the forefront of new technology. Serving their own customers, but also mixed fleet operations. With new solutions in precision ag, autonomous vehicles and engines running on clean energy. Always with full focus on the farmer...

“Cotton King” high clearance tractor

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in Central Asia, are rich in cotton production. In order to meet technological constraints, Lovol launched the high clearance TX1104-H “Cotton King” tractor, specifically designed for cotton production in these countries. Th...

“Agritechnica Asia live” is approaching

From 24-26 August, Agritechnica Asia Live 2022 will be held in Can Tho City, Vietnam. At Agritechnica Live, machinery will be demonstrated in the field. Concurrently there’s an exhibition with a seminar programme. The previous edition was held in Myanmar, which attracted visitors from across South E...

“I wanted to disrupt the industry”

Craig Rupp is a self-made man. The founder and owner of US based Sabanto, has a clear vision on automation in agriculture. “I wanted to disrupt the industry,” he says. And so, he did. Craig developed the Steward retrofit kit, making tractors operate autonomously. It eases the workload for farmers. B...

Related articles

120 years New Holland Zedelgem

New Holland is celebrating the 120th anniversary of its “Zedelgem Global Centre of Harvesting Excellence” in Belgium. This facility is the company’s strategic hub for the development and production of combine harvesters, forage harvesters and balers exported worldwide. For 120 years, every generatio...

ITL tractor assembly in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan and India signed agreements following the Kazakhstan-India Business Forum on Trade and Investment, held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India on September 9th. This includes the assembly of ITL tractors in Kazakhstan. One of the agreements provides for cooperation between SP BKM LLP and Internati...

Fulchir-BCS deal falls through

The recently announced acquisition of BCS Group by Fulchir Group has been canceled. According to Italian financial website Borsa Italia, the conditions for the transaction no longer exist, due to ‘critical issues’ and ‘unpredictable risks’. The acquisition of BCS by the Fulchir industrial group has ...

Siloking strengthens MT structure

Siloking is reorganizing its management team structure for the next phase of the company’s development. By expanding its senior management, the company is streamlining decision-making and strengthening cross-functional collaboration. Hence, the family-owned company is laying the foundation for...