Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL), India’s largest renewable energy company, is water conservation leader. With a portfolio of more than 12.5 GW assets, the company has pledged to be water positive at all its operational sites by FY 2025-26. The initiative is part of AGEL’s sustainability drive, particularly in water-stressed regions like India.
The Growing Water Crisis: A Call for Action
World consumption of water between the years 1900 and 2024 increased by approximately 3,500 billion cubic meters every year. Climatic change worsens this crisis even more with its degradation effect of floods and droughts. Nearly half of the entire world’s population is subject to high water scarcity during most of the year, and a quarter is subject to very high water stress. India, China, and America are among the world’s leading water security issue countries in terms of high usage and low per capita renewable water supply.
What Is Water Positivity?
Water positivity is recycling surplus freshwater to the environment beyond operations consumption. It is a end-to-end conservation, optimization, and renewal process. AGEL has already commenced operations at more than 200 MW sites from FY23 onwards and is on a solid ground for overall sustainability goals.
AGEL’s Strategic Steps towards Water Sustainability
1. Robotic Cleaning for Solar Modules
- AGEL is also adopting robotic cleaning technology for its solar panels, reducing freshwater consumption significantly. 4,760 MW of its operational solar plants (43.5% capacity) have adopted the practice until FY24, conserving 347,310 kiloliters of water—enough to be consumed by 1.58 million households annually.
2. Rainwater Harvesting
- Adopting rainwater harvesting equipment in all installations to harvest and use rainwater in an efficient manner.
3. Pond Rejuvenation and Deepening
- Replenishing and filling 35 ponds in FY24, and enhancing water harvesting capacity and benefiting over 36,000 villagers living in village hamlets.
4. Pure Drinking Water from Humid Atmosphere
- AGEL is using green technology for the recovery of drinking water from moist air with no plastic packed water consumption and low carbon footprints. Pilot (POC) at one of its solar power plant in Andhra Pradesh was successful to recover 100 liters per day with the possibility of universal roll-out.
5. Community Engagement and Awareness
- Hand in hand with local communities for promoting water-saving behavior and achieving sustainable water management.
Certifications and Sustainability Commitments
AGEL’s commitment does not end at water conservation. AGEL’s operating fleet is ‘water positive’ for vegetation of above 200 MW, ‘single-use plastic free,’ and ‘zero waste-to-landfill.’ AGEL is also ISO 14001:2015 certified with a robust environmental management system.
Pioneering the Way to a Sustainable Future
AGEL’s journey to net water positivity is a beacon for the renewable energy sector in the world. Not only is the company minimizing its water footprint, but it is also adding to water security at the local level. While AGEL sets new standards, it once again underlines its dedication to fueling sustainable growth while safeguarding one of the world’s most precious assets—wa
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