Printing a Greener Future: The Tribune’s Solar Success Story

The Tribune, a renowned name in the newspaper industry, is an Indian English-language daily newspaper published in several key cities, including Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Chandigarh, and Gurugram. Established on 2 February 1881 in Lahore by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a philanthropist, it is now managed by a trust comprising five trustees. The Tribune holds significant prominence as one of India's major newspapers, enjoying a global readership. It is a leading English daily in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and the Chandigarh Tricity. The Tribune publishes three editions: English Tribune, Dainik Tribune, and Punjabi Tribune. 

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The challenge-

Two primary motivations drove the Tribune's decision to transition to solar energy. Firstly, as a prominent media outlet and newspaper, they recognised a profound social responsibility to advocate for renewable energy. By integrating solar power into their operations, they aimed to lead by example and educate the public on the merits of sustainable energy practices, aligning their editorial content with their environmental commitments.

Secondly, the Tribune anticipated significant cost savings by reducing their reliance on conventional electricity sources. Given the limited availability of alternative renewable energy options in their region, adopting solar energy emerged as the most practical and economically viable solution.

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The Solution- 

The Tribune embarked on its first solar project in 2018 and subsequently expanded to include its manufacturing units in Chandigarh, Jalandhar, and Gurgaon, achieving a total installed capacity of 500 kWp.

Recognising that solar energy is not their core focus and mindful of the challenges in maintaining vendor relationships and resources, The Tribune opted for an off-balance sheet model. This model involves a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), where they pay solely for the electricity generated. The Tribune benefits from fixed, competitive tariffs typically lower than utility rates, ensuring financial savings from day one. Unlike traditional electricity tariffs subject to market fluctuations and state regulations, this fixed rate shields The Tribune from potential future price hikes by state electricity boards. The stability of this contract facilitates effective long-term budgeting and financial planning, aligning with The Tribune's strategic goals for sustainable and cost-effective energy.

Additionally, all operational and maintenance responsibilities are outsourced to candi solar, alleviating The Tribune from the burden of managing the solar systems and allowing them to focus on their core activities. This partnership ensures reliable energy supply with quality assurance through candi's use of tier-one equipment tailored to their specific needs.

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The Result-

Since implementing solar plants, The Tribune now sources 40% of its total power consumption directly from these facilities. This shift has led to over 15% decrease in their overall electricity expenses. Looking ahead, these savings are projected to double to almost 30% from 2028, when one of their contracts attains the end of the term. This milestone represents a substantial increase in their overall cost savings, underscoring the long-term financial benefits of their solar energy investments.

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Testimonial- 

Parvindar Singh Kapoor, Head of the Electrical Engineer- “Our relations with candi are very comfortable and ever since we've dealt with candi we have had no problem. Since the time of installation, all the people & employees of candi with whom we have come in contact have been very conducive, very comfortable and all the problems whenever they arise have been promptly attended to so I would say it's a very beautiful relationship we have with candi.”

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