Milky Mist expands Arasanoor solar capacity to 25 MW
Milky Mist Dairy Food Limited has commissioned a new 10 MW solar plant at its Arasanoor site in Tamil Nadu.
Milky Mist Dairy Food Limited has commissioned a new 10 MW solar power plant at Arasanoor, Tamil Nadu. The addition expands the solar capacity at that location from 15 MW to 25 MW.
This latest project is part of a broader push for energy self-sufficiency. The company's Chairman and Managing Director, T. Sathish Kumar, said the move is "another step toward strengthening the company’s energy self-sufficiency and advancing sustainable manufacturing practices."
Scaling up renewable energy across operations
The expanded Arasanoor solar project is a key component of Milky Mist's total renewable energy capacity, which now stands at 41 MW. This portfolio includes solar and wind assets spread across several sites in Tamil Nadu.
| Location | Technology | Capacity (MW) |
|---|---|---|
| Arasanoor | Solar | 25 |
| Kavilipalayam | Solar | 9 |
| Chithode | Solar | 5 |
| Kayathar | Wind | 2 |
The company has been building this portfolio since 2016, when it commissioned its first 2 MW solar plant. The cumulative investment in these renewable energy generation projects is nearly ₹197 crore.
Power use and emissions impact
Electricity from the Arasanoor plant will support the company's integrated manufacturing facility at Perundurai and its network of milk chilling centres. The new 10 MW addition alone is expected to generate approximately 2 million units of renewable electricity annually.
A major goal is to reduce dependence on conventional grid power. The company states the additional capacity should help avoid around 16,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year.
Broader renewable energy investments
Milky Mist's renewable strategy extends beyond solar and wind power. The company has invested in steam turbine technology and uses biomass for its boiler operations. It also operates a methane gas purification plant.
This plant processes methane from the company's effluent treatment operations into compressed natural gas for captive power generation. According to the company, this system produces approximately 15,000 units of electricity per day.
The cumulative output from all renewable assets since 2016 is estimated at 210 million units of electricity. The company values this generated power at approximately ₹165 crore. Over their projected 28-30 year lifespan, the installed renewable capacity is expected to generate around 1,400 million units and avoid roughly 1.35 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
With the new Arasanoor capacity now operational, renewable sources are expected to meet the company's total power requirements. The total investment specifically for the 25 MW solar capacity at Arasanoor is ₹109.60 crore. The company installs its solar plants on arid land unsuitable for farming.
Milky Mist will continue to evaluate opportunities to improve energy efficiency, expand renewable power use across its operations, and maintain power neutrality.
