Samsung’s Research and Development (R&D) center in Bengaluru has switched to solar power and 88 percent of its power requirements are now likely to be met from a solar farm located in Kalburgi district of Karnataka.

Samsung, a global tech giant, has adopted a green energy solution called ‘energy wheeling’ and partnered with Bagmane Green Power based in Kalburgi for the supply of power.

Under the ‘energy wheeling’ method, the solar farm in Kalburgi adds the required power to the state electricity grid and Samsung’s campus in Bengaluru receives an equal amount of power from the local electricity grid.

This method reduces transmission and distribution losses, and makes it more energy efficient, the company said in a press release.

“Through this initiative, we have not only reduced our dependency on conventional sources of energy, but we will also have a positive impact on the environment by reducing our carbon footprint and passing on a greener planet to the next generation,” said Dipesh Shah, Managing Director of Samsung’s Bengaluru campus.

Samsung’s Bengaluru campus had initiated the process of going solar in March 2016 as part of its Go Green Initiative and has drawn 8 lakh units of solar power since December 2018.

Samsung, a leading smartphone maker, is a member of the RE 100 initiative. RE 100 is a global initiative by companies committed to use 100 percent renewable energy. The initiative has brought around 140 multinational companies together to fight climate change.

Some of the other multinationals that have joined the RE 100 and committed to source 100 percent renewable electricity are the likes of Sony, McKinsey and Company and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

Many other multinationals with their operations in India have  turned to solar energy to meet their energy requirements.

In July 2018, Walmart India, a wholly owned subsidiary of Walmart Inc, said it is planning to incorporate sustainable sources such as solar energy, water harvesting, and recycling to run its stores in the country.

In June 2018, Infosys, India’s software multinational giant, had announced that it has developed a total capacity of 46.1 MW of rooftop and ground-mounted solar projects across the country.

In March 2018, Microsoft announced the completion of its first renewable energy deal in India. Under the agreement, the company said it would purchase 3 MW of solar-power from Atria Power for its new office building in Karnataka’s capital city, Bengaluru. It will meet 80 percent of the projected electricity needs through this energy purchase.

Image credit: Samsung

Nitin is a staff reporter at Mercomindia.com and writes on renewable energy and related sectors. Prior to Mercom, Nitin has worked for CNN IBN, India News, Agricultural Spectrum and Bureaucracy Today. He received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism & Communication from Manipal Institute of Communication at Manipal University and Master’s degree in International Relations from Jindal School of International Affairs. More articles from Nitin Kabeer