India's UltraTech meets power needs at Chhattisgarh plant entirely from green energy

India's UltraTech Cement said in a statement Sept. 28 that its integrated Kukurdih cement plant in Chhattisgarh has met its entire electricity demand through renewable energy and waste heat recovery systems each month since April, marking a milestone in the company's decarbonization efforts.

The Kukurdih facility, commissioned in 2024 and equipped with 3.3 million metric tons/year of grey cement capacity, achieved the target through a combination of renewable power procurement and waste heat recovery generation, according to the company.

UltraTech said the achievement reflects a broader shift across its manufacturing network. Since April, nearly one-third of the company's 76 production units in India have sourced more than half of their electricity requirements from renewable energy and waste heat recovery, while five sites, including Kukurdih, have recorded green power utilization above 95%.

The producer is also expanding the deployment of battery energy storage systems to facilitate higher renewable energy penetration. As of the first quarter of fiscal year 2026-27, UltraTech's captive green power portfolio comprised 1,463 megawatts of renewable energy capacity and 434 MW of waste heat recovery capacity. The company targets an 85% share of green power in its electricity mix by 2030, in line with its RE100 commitment.

Several Asia-based market participants said the development reflects a broader push by cement producers to increase the use of renewable energy and waste heat recovery as the sector seeks to lower operating costs and reduce carbon emissions.

"Producers are facing growing pressure to improve energy efficiency while advancing their decarbonization targets," an Asia-based trader said. "Investments in renewable power, waste heat recovery and energy storage are becoming increasingly common across the region as companies look to reduce exposure to conventional power costs and tightening environmental requirements."

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, last assessed cement (ASTM type I) FOB Vietnam at $38/mt on Sept. 24, unchanged week over week. Platts assessed cement clinker FOB Vietnam at $32.50/mt, unchanged over the same period.