Improving energy productivity

Energy Management

At UltraTech, energy efficiency drives business efficiency. Improving energy efficiency is also closely linked to reducing the carbon intensity of our operations. That is why we constantly review our energy performance and invest in energy efficient technologies. Initiatives like cooler upgradation, calciner modification, voltage variable frequency drive (VVFD) installation and burner modification across our manufacturing plants have drastically improved our energy productivity. Additionally, we generate power from cleaner sources of energy. This reduces carbon emission and provides higher energy security.

Our Commitments

EP100 Initiative

UltraTech has joined the EP100 initiative which brings together a growing group of energy-smart companies committed to using energy more productively, to lower greenhouse gas emissions, and accelerate a clean economy. UltraTech has committed to double its energy productivity by becoming a member of EP100.

RE100 Commitment

UltraTech has taken its ambition to adopt sustainable energy sources a notch higher with its commitment to Climate Group’s RE100 initiative at Climate Week NYC 2021. As part of this commitment, UltraTech targets to meet 100 per cent of its electricity requirement through renewables sources by 2050.

RE100, led by Climate Group in partnership with CDP, brings together the world’s most influential businesses committed to 100 per cent renewable electricity. UltraTech has set a 100 per cent renewable electricity target for its entire global operations by 2050.

Going forward, UltraTech will be focusing on using globally emerging technologies, change in product mix and energy mix, and digitization to take energy productivity to the next level.

Expert Optimizer, a computer-based system for controlling, stabilizing, and optimizing industrial processes, has been installed and implemented for the Kiln, Calciner, Cooler, one Raw Mill, and one Cement Mill. The Expert Optimizer mimics the actions of the operator and implements them in an autopilot mode. This enables the systems to function with the 'best operator' performing at its optimum - for 24 hours per day.

UltraTech has always taken proactive steps to accelerate decarbonization across its value chain. Adoption of renewable energy has been one of the strategic levers in our carbon footprint reduction plans. In the area of renewable energy, we are increasingly investing in solar power generation for captive usage. This is in addition to our existing contract capacity of 148 MW renewable energy plants. Similarly, the company has adopted waste heat recovery power projects as a strategic initiative and has currently installed capacity of around 125 MW, which is expected to reach 302 MW by FY2024. UltraTech is committed to increase the share of green energy in its electricity mix to 34 per cent by 2024 from current level of 13 per cent.

Case Studies

Two of our grinding units, Arakkonam Cement Works and Ginigera Cement Works, have achieved the feat of operating solely on green energy. We aim to enable this for the full year. Our grinding unit, Arakkonam Cement Works in Tamil Nadu, achieved carbon emission reduction of 16500+ tons in six months of 100 per cent green energy usage. Similarly, Ginigera Cement Works in Karnataka achieved carbon savings of 23000+ tons in two months of 100 per cent green energy usage.