April 23, 2010
SBI banking on Green Energy with Suzlon
First Indian bank to take the lead in harnessing wind energy
Shri O. P. Bhatt Chairman, SBI inaugurates the windfarm in Coimbatore
with Shri Tulsi Tanti - CMD, Suzlon
Suzlon commissioned SBIs first wind power project of 15 MW in record time
of four months
Coimbatore: State Bank of India (SBI), Indias largest commercial bank, took the lead in
setting high sustainability standards and completed the first step in its Green Banking
initiative with Shri O. P. Bhatt, Chairman, SBI, inaugurating the banks first windfarm
project in Coimbatore.
The 15 MW project, supplied by Suzlon Energy Limited, the worlds third leading* and
Indias largest wind turbine manufacturer, consists of 10 units of Suzlons S-82 1.5 MW wind
turbine generators installed across Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
The path breaking project forms an important part of SBIs strategy to reduce its carbon
footprint and sensitize clients on the need for adopting efficient processes. The electricity
generated from the wind turbines will power various SBI facilities and operations across the
three states.
The project was completed by Suzlon in record time going from concept to commissioning
in just four months; covering equipment supply, construction, project commissioning, power
evacuation, and comprehensive operations and maintenance services.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Bhatt said: Amongst the players in the Financial
Services sector, State Bank has taken the initiative to be in the forefront in initiating steps
for combating climate change and reducing our carbon footprint, and we propose to take
the initiative forward for which this beginning has been made in acquiring Green Power, with
a view to making the bank as nearly energy neutral as possible over the next five years.
He further said, The windmills are set up with a definite objective of reducing the
dependence on the polluting thermal power and not on purely economic and business
considerations. The project has been brought to completion in a record period of four
months from the time of its conception by Suzlon Energy limited, who won in the open bid
for the Project. This project directly results in reducing the carbon footprint of the bank and
paves the way for others to follow. He added, The bank is planning to set up an additional
20 MW capacity of windmills in the state of Gujarat, once clarification about the feasibility of
wheeling of power even to our LT consumption points is received from the Gujarat Energy
Development Authority.
Speaking from Coimbatore, Shri Tulsi R. Tanti, Chairman and Managing Director,
Suzlon Energy Ltd, said: This project demonstrates SBIs far-reaching vision in
recognizing the challenge of climate change, and our collective responsibility to combat it.
As an Indian company, and the worlds third largest wind power group, it gives us great
pride to partner with SBI in its first Green Banking initiative: harnessing wind to reduce its
carbon footprint. We look forward to building on this success, and this project becoming a
beacon for other corporates and industries.
The project was inaugurated at a function at the windfarm site near Coimbatore by Shri O.
P. Bhatt, accompanied by eminent dignitaries from SBI, including - Shri Sanjay
Bhattacharya - Managing Director, Shri Sridharan Managing Director, Shri S.
Vishwanathan Managing Director (SBI CAPS), Shri A. P. Verma - Deputy MD, Shri P.K.
Khosla Chief General Manager, Shri J. Chandrasekaran - Chief General Manager; and
members of Suzlons senior management including Shri Tulsi R. Tanti Chairman and
Managing Director, Shri Robin Banerjee - Chief Financial Officer and Shri Ashok DSa -
President (South Asia and Middle East).
