A new study from Climate Risk Horizons and Energy Transition Ventures says Tamil Nadu's textile industry can cut energy costs by up to Rs 3,250 crore per year if it fully shifts to renewable electricity. The report, titled Fashioning a Net Zero Future for Tamil Nadu's Textile Sector, found that energy spending in the sector jumped nearly 47% between 2020-21 and 2023-24, with electricity making up 80% of total energy expenditure. Switching to green tariffs and open-access renewable power could reduce electricity costs by 41.5%, the study estimates. The report also warns that India's textile sector has the highest carbon footprint among major exporting nations, emitting 12.5 kg of CO2 per kg of textile produced. That is 31% higher than Vietnam and 28% above Bangladesh. The study links rising biomass use in Tamil Nadu's textile clusters to forest loss, estimating that woody biomass consumption between 2011-12 and 2023-24 could equal the loss of 65 million to 249 million trees. It calls for faster adoption of renewable electricity and clean heating systems to improve competitiveness and meet global sustainability regulations like the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
