Ambuja & ACC sharpen focus on Green Power Generation

Ambuja Cement and ACC – both operating companies of leading global building material and solutions organisation LafargeHolcim – have collectively taken a giant step to generate clean and green energy in line with their carbon intensity reduction roadmap. This comes close on the heels of parent company LafargeHolcim signing the Net Zero Pledge with 2030 science-based targets during the Climate Week held in September 2020 in New York, USA.

Unveiling the plan to set up Waste Heat Recovery System (WHRS) based power plants, Neeraj Akhoury – CEO India, LafargeHolcim and MD & CEO, Ambuja Cement – said, “Six cement plants at both Ambuja Cement and ACC will invest over Rs 780 crores in green power generation, which will lead to a significant reduction of 5.61 lakh tons of carbon footprint annually. This is a major step in our journey towards reduction of carbon intensity.” 

The WHRS will be installed at Ambuja Cement plants in Bhatapara (Chhattisgarh), Suli and Rauri (Himachal Pradesh) and Marwar Mundwa (Rajasthan); and ACC plants in Jamul (Chhattisgarh) and Kymore (Madhya Pradesh). All projects are slated to be completed in the next 16 to 18 months.

Both companies set up their first WHRS in 2013-14 – at Rabriyawas (Ambuja Cement) and Gagal (ACC) – thus displaying their commitment towards green energy while marking an important step in energy conservation in the Indian cement industry. Not only does WHRS trap the enormous heat generated during the manufacturing process to gainfully generate electricity as a sustainable solution, it also helps reduce the use of fossil fuels.

In addition to boosting efficiency, WHRS is a proven method for reducing CO2 emissions, and part of helping reach LafargeHolcim’s ambition to reduce emissions due to electricity use by 65% by 2030.

“This is a proud moment for all of us,” said Mr Akhoury. “Both Ambuja Cement and ACC have had an unwavering focus on sustainability for decades. Our Sustainable Development vision is built around strategic drivers that have shaped our growth and evolution. By deciding to set up 

these six WHRS, we have moved one step closer to realising our sustainability goals – reducing usage of fossil fuel and thus reducing our carbon footprint.”

“Sustainability efforts by both companies so far have borne fruit,” said Sridhar Balakrishnan –

– MD&CEO, ACC. “A host of recognitions from national and global bodies demonstrates that we have been walking the talk in terms of sustainability.” A sharp focus on Sustainable Development embodies safety, conservation of energy and natural resources, preserving environment and biodiversity, water stewardship and the well-being of host communities. “The setting up of WHRS reiterates our distinct and strong focus towards clean energy and strengthens our resolve to reduce our energy consumption per unit of cement produced,” emphasised Mr Balakrishnan.

In addition, to further reduce environmental footprint and remain committed to delivering the Company’s ambitious Sustainable Development 2030 plan, Ambuja and ACC have also adopted the use of solar power in their cement manufacturing process. Together, the two companies have an operational solar portfolio of 45.2 MWp, generating about ~ 68.5 mio units per year and a wind operating assets of 26.5 MW, generating ~ 45 Mio units / year.

Both companies have undertaken several CO2 reduction measures such as clinker factor reduction, thermal substitution rate, thermal & electrical energy efficiency, renewable energy and adoption of new technologies. Both companies have comparatively low specific CO2 emissions in the world with about 530 kg and 512 kg CO2 per ton of cementitious material for Ambuja Cement and ACC respectively; and together striving to further reduce their carbon emissions intensity to well below 425 kg per ton of cementitious material from its current level by the year 2030.