The country's government gas company GAIL (India) Limited has decided to invest in a big wind power project in Maharashtra. The company will spend Rs 1,736.25 crore on this project. The aim of this step is to increase renewable energy capacity and achieve the target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2035.
The company said in its regulatory filing that the proposal to set up 178.2 MW wind power capacity was approved in the board meeting held on Friday. This project will be completed within 24 months after getting the contract. After its launch, there will be a significant increase in GAIL's existing renewable energy capacity.
At present the company has renewable energy capacity of 117.95 MW. Apart from this, a total of 27 MW solar projects are also being operated in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. At the same time, GAIL's wind power projects are already operational in Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, due to which the company is gradually strengthening its presence in the clean energy sector.
GAIL has set a target of reducing Scope-1 and Scope-2 carbon emissions to zero by 2035, while it plans to reduce Scope-3 emissions by 2040. The company is working towards increasing its total renewable energy capacity to 3.4 gigawatts by 2035. This strategy is considered to be in line with India's energy transition and climate goals.
Apart from wind and solar energy, GAIL is also investing in clean energy projects like green hydrogen and compressed biogas (CBG). Experts believe that energy companies are now increasingly focusing on green energy along with traditional fuels.
GAIL is India's largest natural gas transmission and marketing company, with a gas pipeline network of approximately 18,000 kilometers across the country. The company also plays an active role in LPG marketing and petrochemical business.
