Analysis says Kutch renewable hub could avoid 29 million tonnes of CO2 a year

A new analysis of Reliance Industries disclosures and grid data says the Kutch renewable energy hub in Gujarat could prevent about 29 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually once it reaches its planned output. The estimate underscores the scale of Anant Ambani’s clean-energy buildout and its potential to reshape Reliance’s emissions profile.

Why it matters: - The Kutch renewable hub is projected to avoid about 29 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year at full output. - That scale is roughly equal to the annual emissions of about 6.8 million passenger cars. - The estimate is also about three-quarters of Reliance Industries’ own reported annual emissions. - The project is part of Reliance’s push toward 100 gigawatts of clean-energy capacity by 2030 and net-zero carbon by 2035.

What happened: - An analysis released Sept. 28, 2026, used Reliance’s published target of more than 40 billion units of electricity a year and Central Electricity Authority grid data to estimate the emissions avoided by the Kutch hub. - The project is led by Reliance Industries Executive Director Anant Ambani. - Anant Ambani outlined the project at Reliance’s annual general meeting on June 19, 2026. - The hub is under construction in Kutch, Gujarat. - The site covers 550,000 acres, or about 2,200 square kilometres. - The footprint is larger than Greater London, which covers 1,572 square kilometres.

The details: - The analysis applies the Central Electricity Authority’s 2023-24 grid emission factor of 0.727 tonnes of CO2 per 1,000 units. - The calculation is based on the hub’s stated target of more than 40 billion units of electricity a year. - Anant Ambani said the hub is designed to generate more than 40 billion units a year, equal to around 3% of India’s total demand. - Battery storage is expected to allow round-the-clock supply. - The project is supplied from the Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga Complex in Jamnagar. - The Jamnagar manufacturing site covers 5,000 acres. - Reliance said the Jamnagar complex carries a committed investment of Rs 75,000 crore, or about $10 billion, announced in 2021. - Solar module manufacturing lines are operational. - Nearly 1 gigawatt of heterojunction modules has been produced. - Reliance says this is the first HJT technology listed on India’s Approved List of Models and Manufacturers. - Planned solar module capacity is 20 gigawatts a year. - The battery plant has a target capacity of 40 gigawatt-hours. - The first phase of the battery factory is due for commissioning in 2026. - The battery factory is scalable to 120 gigawatt-hours. - The green hydrogen and chemicals plan targets 3 million tonnes of capacity within 10 years. - Reliance has signed a $3 billion long-term green ammonia supply agreement with Samsung C&T of South Korea. - The company expects the Jamnagar and Kutch projects together to create around 200,000 jobs.

Between the lines: - The Kutch hub cuts emissions by avoiding fossil-fuel generation, while Vantara aims to remove carbon through tree cover and land restoration. - Vantara is a separate wildlife rescue and conservation initiative near Jamnagar founded by Anant Ambani. - The estate covers 3,500 acres and was built on a green belt planted from 1997 on formerly arid land. - More than 10 million trees are reported to grow there. - Applying UN Food and Agriculture Organization forest rates to the site suggests it could absorb about 17,000 to 52,000 tonnes of CO2 a year. - That estimate is equivalent to the emissions of about 3,900 to 12,100 passenger cars. - No official carbon-sequestration figure has been published for Vantara. - In December 2025, the Global Humane Society gave Anant Ambani its Global Humanitarian Award for wildlife conservation leadership. - He was appointed an executive director of Reliance Industries in May 2025.

What's next: - The first phase of the battery factory is slated for commissioning in 2026. - Reliance’s 100-gigawatt clean-energy target remains set for 2030. - Reliance’s net-zero carbon target remains set for 2035. - Actual emissions avoided will depend on commissioning schedules and grid conditions. - Actual sequestration outcomes at Vantara will depend on forest growth and site conditions.

The bottom line: - Reliance is building a renewable-energy platform at a scale that could materially reduce its emissions footprint while adding new industrial capacity, jobs and manufacturing depth in Gujarat. - More information is available at Vantara.