Que: EKI is known for its work towards rehabilitating the planet to a future of net-zero carbon emissions. Please brief us on sustainable solutions provided by EKI for climate change and carbon offsets.

Ans: Founded in 2008, EKI emerged with the noble objective of fostering environmental sustainability and creating a safer future. Over the years, we have evolved into a prominent global service provider in the field of climate action, empowering businesses across diverse industries to formulate strategic plans that diminish their carbon footprint and realise their climate aspirations.

At EKI, we offer a comprehensive range of sustainable and strategic solutions, encompassing consultancy and advisory services that cover the entire spectrum of carbon asset management. This includes the generation, supply, and offsetting of carbon credits. Our expertise in this domain, honed over a span of 14+ years, has facilitated numerous reductions in emissions. As the sole listed company dedicated to climate action, we serve as a catalyst for carbon offsets and play a vital role in the carbon credit supply chain worldwide.

We provide services across the following segments:

• Carbon credit portfolio management
• Sustainability & net-zero services
• Climate investments, enabling nature restoration along with community development. This includes community-based projects, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and ESCO energy efficiency projects
• Carbon markets capital building advisory and more

In our unwavering commitment to making a difference, we champion carbon reduction projects that not only fortify the global carbon credit supply chain but also contribute to community development. By creating employment opportunities in rural villages, we help improve livelihoods and foster sustainable growth.

Today, our services cater to over 3500+ clients across more than 40 countries, a testament to our global reach and impact. To date, we have mobilised an impressive tally of 200 million+ credits, showcasing our dedication to driving meaningful change in the fight against climate change.

Que: Could you shed some light on how EKI Energy has been helping organisations across sectors in reducing carbon footprints?

Ans: Any activity that reduces carbon dioxide by 1 tonne is worth 1 carbon credit — a certificate that such an amount has been kept out of the atmosphere. There are seven greenhouse gases including Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and the reduction in any of them can yield carbon credits. These reductions can happen either by preventing carbon from going into the atmosphere or by taking it out of the air, which is called carbon sequestration.

Each carbon credit represents a verified and measurable reduction of emissions, typically achieved through activities such as renewable energy projects, energy efficiency improvements, reforestation, or carbon capture and storage initiatives. These projects are evaluated and certified by recognised standards and methodologies to ensure their credibility and environmental integrity.

By purchasing carbon credits, individuals or organisations can offset their own emissions by supporting projects that effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This mechanism provides an incentive for emission reductions and supports the transition to a low-carbon economy by encouraging investment in sustainable practices and technologies.

EKI Energy helps customers manage their credits on both sides i.e. purchase and sell, ultimately enabling them to reduce their carbon footprint. We provide consultancy/advisory services for the end-to-end management of carbon assets including carbon credit generation, supply, monetisation and offsetting. Our climate experts guide throughout one's climate journey –

Measure carbon footprint & risks- Our team helps the client gain a comprehensive understanding of their carbon emissions, environmental impacts of their businesses, products & services and risks associated with climate change.

Set targets & create roadmap- Further, the client is assisted in creating and establishing their sustainability strategies, setting clear targets, and designing effective roadmaps.

Reduce carbon footprint- Ultimately it helps to optimise efficiency and decarbonise their supply chain.

Que: Please brief us on EKI’s nature-based and community-based projects.

Ans: Our brand is dedicated to uplifting communities and has undertaken special initiatives to provide essential resources to rural areas, remote villages and/or economically backward areas of society. These projects aim to improve the lives of individuals by granting them access to vital amenities such as safe drinking water, energy-efficient LED bulbs, and improved cook stoves at no cost to users. These cookstoves not only save energy but also empower individuals in these areas to enhance their quality of life by providing them with safer and more cost-effective necessities.

Additionally, we have established GHG Reduction Technologies Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary focused on manufacturing improved cook stoves. Through this venture, we have successfully extended the benefits of carbon avoidance development to remote and marginalised communities. This endeavour aligns with our commitment to promote livelihood, women's empowerment, and health in these areas. To support the manufacturing process, we have built a cutting-edge facility in Nashik that specialises in producing improved cook stoves. With an annual production capacity of 5 million units, this facility ranks among the world's highest-capacity production sites.

The clean cooking initiative also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN with its added benefits of reduction of environmental pollution, reduction of deforestation, health benefits to villagers, biodiversity conservation and generation of employment. Additionally, it reduces drudgery for women who travel long distances to collect fuel wood and increases their involvement in economically productive activities, improves the overall health of people living in and around the vicinity of inefficient cookstoves, especially women and children, and ultimately results in women empowerment.

Furthermore, we are continuously expanding our efforts to address energy and water insecurities by implementing other community-based technologies.

Moving ahead, we champion the implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to offset carbon emissions with the aim to mitigate adverse climate change through the protection, restoration and management of natural and semi-natural ecosystems. Our NbS offerings include climate change mitigation & resilience, improved agriculture and land management, reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD/REDD+), afforestation/reforestation/forest conservation, Blue Carbon and ecosystem conservation.

We have joined hands with Shell Overseas Investments B.V. (from Netherlands), in a special purpose vehicle (SPV) – ‘Amrut Nature Solutions Private Ltd.’; which invests in offsets and the generation of potential projects in NbS; specifically, in forestry, agriculture including agroforestry, horticulture, grasslands, wetlands, peatland and blue-carbon sectors.

Que: What are Energy Attribute Certificates and how do they empower the energy transition?

Ans: Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) play a pivotal role in tracking the origin of renewable electricity and its environmental attributes. By putting a premium on clean electricity, EACs increase the earnings of renewable energy producers and make investments in renewable capacity. These certificates not only document renewable energy purchases but also contribute to a low-carbon future by incentivising investment in clean power and allowing consumers to make informed environmental claims. By providing transparency and accountability, these certificates enable buyers to claim ownership of the environmental benefits associated with clean energy. EACs come in two forms: bundled and unbundled.

I-RECs, unbundled EACs also known as International Renewable Energy Certificates, are market-based instruments that enable organisations to track and claim the environmental attributes of renewable electricity. These certificates certify that a specific amount of energy has been generated from renewable sources and injected into the grid. By purchasing I-RECs, organisations can ensure that the electricity they consume is sourced from renewable energy projects. This approach allows them to displace fossil fuel-based electricity consumption and significantly reduce Scope 2 emissions. Through the purchase of I-RECs, organisations support the development of renewable energy infrastructure and stimulate further investments in clean energy projects.

Que: EKI Energy Services’ wholly owned subsidiary EnKing International has incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary Company named ‘EKI Turkey Cevre Danismanligi Ltd. Sirketi’ in Turkey. What is the objective behind this new entity formation?

Ans: EKI Turkey Environmental Consulting Limited Company has been established with a clear set of objectives. Firstly, it aims to open up access to untapped markets, thereby expanding the reach of its products and services. This strategic move is intended to tap into new customer segments and increase the company's market share.

Secondly, it seeks to enhance brand awareness and visibility. This will not only attract potential customers but also help differentiate itself from competitors, ultimately leading to improved market positioning. Moreover, the formation of this new entity aligns with the company's broader global expansion strategy. By venturing into new markets, EKI Turkey Environmental Consulting Limited Company aims to establish an international presence and capitalize on opportunities beyond its existing geographical boundaries. This strategic move enables the company to leverage its expertise and resources to cater to a wider range of clients and capitalize on emerging market trends.

Overall, the establishment of this new entity is expected to have a synergistic effect on the company's organic growth strategy. By gaining access to new markets, expanding brand recognition, and aligning with its global expansion strategy, EKI Turkey Environmental Consulting Limited Company is poised to strengthen its market position and foster sustainable growth in the long term.

Que: What kind of challenges do you face while implementing such projects? How do you address them?

Ans: Since the carbon market is an evolving market, the challenges are those typical for any developing initiative – lack of basic regulations, lack of consumer awareness, lack of trust/transparency and insufficient governance. However, there is a significant improvement as a large number of countries now have a regulated mechanism. While it was earlier restricted to the developed world only, the wave to set up a national regulated mechanism is strong in the developing world too.

We are really looking forward to the formalised carbon market that will soon take shape in the country. This will of course help us – raise awareness among Indian corporates and organisations, regulate the carbon market, motivate more businesses to indulge in buying/selling of carbon credits, open new opportunities in the form of increased sources of carbon trade and ultimately, take the country closer to its target to become net-zero by 2070.