Concrete
Automation leads to significant gains through optimal raw mix
Published
2 years agoon
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D L Kantham, Director – Technical, Penna Cement, discusses the use of alternative raw materials and fuels in making green cement, along with the use of technology and automation, to ensure that the industry moves towards Net Zero goals.
Tell us about the importance of going green for the Indian cement industry.
Globally cement production capacity stands at 4.2 billion tonnes per annum. Cement production, a source of anthropogenic CO2, accounts for 8 per cent of global emissions. Indian production capacity currently stands at about 550 million tonnes per annum with annual production of around 370 million tons per annum. Annual cement production is expected to reach about 480 million tons annually by 2028-29. Hence, the cement industry in India must ‘Go Green’ to be aligned with the Net Zero Target by 2050. This target is aligned with the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.50C.
What are the key alternative raw materials used to manufacture green cement?
We use fly ash, slag and other pozzolanic materials as key alternative raw materials to manufacture greener cement.
What is the role of fuel in making cement green? How does the use of alternative fuels impact the productivity and efficiency of the manufacturing process?
Using alternative fuels like pharma wastes and municipal solid wastes, leads to reduced fossil fuel (coal) usage, thereby reducing carbon emission. Alternative fuel utilisation in the cement industry reduces production costs and reduces CO2 emissions in the atmosphere.
Tell us about the cement blends or products from your organisation that are lower in their carbon content.
Penna Power (Portland Pozzolana Cement) conforming to IS 1489:2015 (32-35 per cent fly ash blended), Penna Suraksha (Portland Slag Cement) conforming to IS 455:2015 (38-48 per cent GGBS Blended) and Concrete Guard, a premium blended product conforming to IS: 1489:2015 aimed to motivate and supply 100 per cent blended cement in retail markets satisfying the customer requirements in IHB market segments.
Tell us about your Net Zero goals. How much have you achieved so far?
Our Net Zero goal is to increase our blended cement production ratio to 75 per cent from the 40 per cent level in 2015. Currently, blended cement production constitutes about 55 per cent.
How do you incorporate sustainability in your cement manufacturing process
- Increasing Clinker to Cement Ratio (Higher use of PFA/GGBS in the mix).
- Alternative fuels like pet coke, pharma waste and municipal waste.
- Energy efficiency technologies, such as Waste Heat Recovery to reduce fossil fuel requirements and adaptation of better cement grinding systems (Roller Press), grinding aids, etc.
What is the role of automation and technology in making cement an eco-friendly product?
Automation leads to significant gains through optimal raw mix, better product output in quantity and quality through minimal human involvement and saves time in decision making on end product quality by quicker analysis of raw materials.
What are the major challenges in reducing the carbon content of cement manufacturing, and how can they be resolved?
Two key areas for reducing the carbon content from cement include:
Reduction in clinker to cement ratio through greater uptake of blended cement in all the key consumption segments – housing, government projects, precast cement products and ready-mix concrete. This involves developing new blended cement to suit the requirements in segments where OPC is still preferred for specific reasons, and to adapt to a higher percentage of alternative fuels in the process.
Following actions may be taken to improve greater uptake of blended cements, which leads to a reduction in the clinker cement ratio:
- We need to enhance market awareness and acceptability because users are reluctant to select blended cement over portland cement in some regions, though substantial progress has happened in India over the past two decades.
- Need to involve all the key stakeholders – cement manufacturers, government policymakers – national standards, consultants, key end users, and related allied products, e.g., chemical admixtures used in concrete production for exchange of experience on reducing clinker to cement ratio, promote training events with national standardisation bodies and accreditation institutes etc.
- Independent organisations to develop cement and concrete standards and codes that allow the widespread use of blended cements while ensuring product reliability and durability at final applications to promote the use of blended cement. For example, additional types of blended cement with a higher blending ratio for specific end applications.
- Government to promote blended cement in sourcing and public procurement policies and the private big project consultants.
- Industries and universities conduct R&D into processing techniques for potential cement blending materials that cannot be used due to quality constraints, for example, rice husk ash.
- Introducing a freight subsidy for transporting supplementary cementitious materials from surplus areas to cement clusters is desirable where SCM availability is limited.
- Deploying innovative technologies (including carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS)). Government can stimulate investment and innovation in these areas through funding for R&D.
Broadly, CCUS prevents CO2 from being released into the atmosphere by capturing it and either using it or injecting it in geological formations for permanent storage. CCUS will be crucial to reduce cement sector CO2 emissions, particularly the process emissions released during limestone calcination. While the commercial deployment of CCUS is currently limited, several innovative efforts have been underway in recent years.
How do you measure the impact of your green cement on the environment and society, and what steps do you take to continuously improve its sustainability?
Resource and environmental protection agencies use specific indicators to track and enforce
changes. Today, one of the critical measurement techniques is footprint evaluation. The three common footprint indicators are carbon, ecological, water and soil footprint.
Green concrete produced from green cement has been proven to have enhanced the structure’s durability. This ensures a reduction in demand for natural resources (limestone in particular), thereby improving the sustainability, associated energy consumption, and a corresponding decrease in GHG (GreenHouse Gas) emissions.
Additional cement product profiles, for example, Composite Cement and LC3 Cement (Limestone Calcined Clay Cement), are being researched and developed to suit the market requirement, which will help us further improve on sustainability.
-Kanika Mathur

Concrete
The primary high-power applications are fans and mills
Published
2 days agoon
October 10, 2025By
admin
Alex Nazareth, Whole-time Director and CEO, Innomotics India, explains how plants can achieve both cost competitiveness and sustainability by lowering emissions, reducing downtime and planning for significant power savings.
As one of the most energy-intensive industries, cement manufacturing faces growing pressure to optimise power consumption, reduce emissions and improve operational reliability. Technology providers like Innomotics India are enabling this transformation by combining advanced motors, AI-driven digital solutions and intelligent monitoring systems that enhance process stability and reduce energy costs. From severe duty motors built for extreme kiln environments to DigiMine AI solutions that optimise pyro and mill operations, Alex Nazareth, Whole-time Director and CEO, Innomotics India, explains how the company is helping cement plants achieve measurable energy savings while moving closer to their sustainability goals.
How does your Energy Performance Contracting model typically reduce power consumption in cement plants—e.g., MWh saved?
Our artificial intelligence-based DigiMine AI Pyro and Mill solutions developed specifically for the cement industry, supports our customers in improving their process stability, productivity and process efficiency. In Pyro, this is achieved by optimising fuel consumption (Coal / AFR), reducing Specific Heat Consumption and reduction in emissions (CO2, SOx and NOx) through continuous monitoring of thermodynamics in pyro and recommending set-points of crucial parameters in advance for maintaining stable operations.
Within the mill, this is achieved by improving throughput, reduce energy / power consumption and maintaining stable operations on a continuous basis. Our ROI-based value proposition captures the project KPIs like reduction of coal usage, increase of AFR, reduction of specific heat consumption (Kcal / Kg), reduction of specific power consumption (KWH / tonne), reduction of emissions, etc., by a specific percentage. This gives clarity to our customers to understand the investment vis-à-vis savings and estimate the recovery time of their investment, which typically is achieved within one year of DigiMine AI Pyro and Mill solutions implementation.
What role do digitalisation and motor monitoring play in overall plant energy optimisation?
Motors are being used extensively in cement production, and their monitoring play crucial role in ensuring continuous operation of applications. The monitoring system can automatically generate alerts for any anomaly / abnormalities in motor parameters, which allows plant team to take corrective actions and avoid any major equipment damage and breakdown. The alerts help maintenance team to plan maintenance schedule and related activity efficiently. Centralised and organised data gives overview to the engineers for day-to-day activities. Cement is amongst the top energy intensive industries in comparison to other industries. Hence, it becomes critically important to optimise efficiency, productivity and up-time of plant equipment. Motor monitoring and digitalisation plays a vital role in it. Monitoring and control of multiple applications and areas
within the plant or multiple plants becomes possible with digitalisation.
Digitalisation adds a layer on top of OT systems, bringing machine and process data onto a single interface. This solves the challenges such as system silo, different communications protocol, databases and most importantly, creates a common definition and measurement to plant KPIs. Relevant stakeholders, such as engineers, head of departments and plant heads, can see accurate information, analyse it and make better decisions with appropriate timing. In doing so, plant teams can take proactive actions before machine breakdown, enable better coordination during maintenance activities while improving operational efficiency and productivity.
Further using latest technologies like Artificial Intelligence can even assist operators in running their plant with minimal requirement of human intervention, which allows operators to utilise their time in focusing on more critical topics like analysing data to identify further improvements in operation.
Which of your high-efficiency IEC low-voltage motors deliver the best energy savings for cement mills or fans?
Innomotics India offers a range of IEC-compliant low-voltage motors engineered to deliver superior performance and energy savings, particularly for applications such as cement mills, large fans, and blowers. Innomotics has the complete range of IE4 motors from 0.37kW to 1000kW to meet the demands of cement industry. The IE5 range is also available for specific requirements.
Can safe area motors operate safely and efficiently in cement kiln environments?
Yes, safe area motors are designed to operate reliably in these environments without the risk of overheating. These motors have ingress protection that prevents dust, moisture ingress and can withstand mechanical stress. These motors are available in IE3 / IE4 efficiency classes thereby ensuring lower energy consumption during continuous operation. These motors comply with relevant Indian as well as international standards.
How do your SD Severe Duty motors contribute to lower emissions and lower cost in heavy duty cement applications?
Severe duty motors enhances energy efficiency and durability in demanding cement applications, directly contributing to lower emissions and operational costs. With high-efficiency ratings (such as IE3 or better), they reduce power consumption, minimising CO2 output from energy use. Their robust design handles extreme heat, dust and vibration—common in cement environments—ensuring reliable performance and fewer energy losses.
These motors also lower the total cost of ownership by reducing downtime, maintenance and replacement frequency. Their extended service life and minimal performance degradation help cement plants meet sustainability targets, comply with emissions regulations and improve overall energy management—all while keeping production consistent and cost-effective.
What pump, fan or compressor drive upgrades have shown approximately 60 per cent energy savings in industrial settings and can be replicated in cement plants?
In the cement industry, the primary high-power applications are fans and mills. Among these, fans have the greatest potential for energy savings. Examples, the pre-heater fan, bag house fan, and cooler fans. When there are variations in airflow or the need to maintain a constant pressure in a process, using a variable speed drive (VSD) system is a more effective option for starting and controlling these fans. This adaptive approach can lead to significant energy savings. For instance, vanes and dampers can remain open while the variable frequency drive and motor system manage airflow regulation efficiently.
Concrete
We conduct regular internal energy audits
Published
2 days agoon
October 10, 2025By
admin
Shaping the future of low-carbon cement production involves integrating renewables, digitalisation and innovative technologies. Uma Suryam, SVP and Head Manufacturing – Northern Region, Nuvoco Vistas, gives us a detailed account of how.
In an industry where energy consumption can account for a significant portion of operating costs, cement manufacturers are under increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices without compromising efficiency. Nuvoco Vistas has taken a decisive step in this direction, leveraging digitalisation, renewable energy and innovative technologies to drive energy efficiency across its operations. In this exclusive conversation, Uma Suryam, SVP and Head Manufacturing – Northern Region, Nuvoco Vistas, shares its approach to energy management, challenges of modernising brownfield plants and its long-term roadmap to align efficiency with India’s net-zero vision.
How has your company improved energy efficiency over the past five years?
Over the past five years, we have prioritised energy conservation by enhancing operational efficiency and scaling up renewable energy adoption. Through strategic fuel mix optimisation, deployment of cleaner technologies, and greater integration of renewables, we have steadily reduced our environmental footprint while meeting energy needs sustainably.
Technological upgrades across our plants have further strengthened efficiency. These include advanced process control systems, enhanced trend analysis, grinding media optimisation and the integration of solar-powered utilities. Importantly, grid integration at our key plants has delivered significant cost savings and streamlined energy management.
A notable milestone has been the expansion of our solar power capacity and Waste Heat Recovery Systems (WHRS). Our solar power capacity has grown from 1.5 MW in FY 2021–22 to 5.5 MW, while our WHRS capacity has increased from 44.7 MW to 49 MW, underscoring our commitment to sustainable energy solutions.
What technologies or practices have shown the highest energy-saving potential in cement production?
One of our most significant achievements in advancing energy efficiency has been the successful commissioning of a 132 KV Grid Integration Project, which unified three of our major manufacturing units under a single power network. This milestone, enabled by a dedicated transmission line and a state-of-the-art Line-In Line-Out (LILO) substation, has transformed our energy management and operational capabilities.
With this integration, we have substantially reduced our contract demand, eliminated power disruptions, and enhanced operational continuity. Supported by an optical fibre network for real-time communication and automation, this project stands as a testament to our innovation-led manufacturing excellence and underscores Nuvoco’s vision of building a safer, smarter, and sustainable world.
What role does digitalisation play in achieving energy efficiency in your operations?
Digitalisation plays a transformative role in driving energy efficiency across our operations. At Nuvoco, we are leveraging cutting-edge technologies and advanced digital tools to enhance productivity, optimise energy consumption and strengthen our commitment to sustainability and employee safety.
We are developing AI-enabled dashboards to optimise WHRS and kiln operations, ensuring maximum efficiency. Additionally, our advanced AI models evaluate multiple operational parameters — including fuel pricing, moisture content and energy output — to identify the most cost-effective fuel combinations in real time. These initiatives are enabling data-driven decision-making, improving operational excellence and reducing our environmental footprint.
What is your long-term strategy for aligning energy efficiency with decarbonisation goals?
As part of India’s climate action agenda, the cement sector has laid out a clear decarbonisation roadmap to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2070. At Nuvoco, we view this as both a responsibility and an opportunity to redefine the future of sustainable construction. Our long-term strategy focuses on aligning energy efficiency with decarbonisation goals by embracing innovative technologies, alternative raw materials and renewable energy solutions.
We are making strategic investments to scale up solar power installations and enhance our renewable energy mix significantly by 2028. These initiatives are a key part of our broader vision to reduce Scope 2 emissions and strengthen our contribution to India’s net-zero journey, while continuing to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions to our customers.
How do you measure and benchmark energy performance across different plants?
We adopt a comprehensive approach to measure and benchmark energy performance across our plants. Key metrics include Specific Heat Consumption (kCal/kg of clinker) and Specific Power Consumption (kWh/tonne of cement), which are continuously tracked against Best Available Technology (BAT) benchmarks, industry peers and global standards such as the WBCSD-CSI and CII benchmarks.
To ensure consistency and drive improvements, we conduct regular internal energy audits, leverage real-time dashboards and implement robust KPI tracking systems. These tools enable us to compare performance across plants effectively, identify optimisation opportunities and set actionable targets for energy efficiency and sustainability.
What are the key challenges in adopting energy-efficient equipment in brownfield cement plants?
Adopting energy-efficient technologies in brownfield cement plants presents a unique set of challenges due to the constraints of working within existing infrastructure. Firstly, the high capital expenditure and relatively long payback periods often require careful evaluation before investments are made. Additionally, integrating new technologies with legacy equipment can be complex, requiring significant customisation to ensure seamless compatibility and performance.
Another major challenge is minimising production disruptions during installation. Since brownfield plants are already operational, upgrades must be planned meticulously to avoid affecting output. In many cases, space constraints in older facilities add to the difficulty of accommodating advanced equipment without compromising existing layouts.
At Nuvoco, we address these challenges through a phased implementation approach, detailed project planning and by fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration across our plants. This helps us balance operational continuity with our commitment to driving energy efficiency and sustainability.
Concrete
Enlight Metals Supplies 3,200 Tonne of Steel for Navi Mumbai Airport
The airport is set to become Asia’s largest air connectivity hub.
Published
2 days agoon
October 10, 2025By
admin
Enlight Metals has supplied 3,200 metric tonne of steel for the newly inaugurated Navi Mumbai International Airport, marking a major contribution to one of India’s largest infrastructure projects and reinforcing the company’s commitment to supporting national development.
The Navi Mumbai International Airport, developed under a Public-Private Partnership led by the Adani Group, was inaugurated today by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The airport is set to become Asia’s largest air connectivity hub, enhancing regional connectivity, boosting economic growth, and expanding trade opportunities. Prime Minister Modi described the project as a “glimpse of Viksit Bharat,” highlighting its transformative impact on infrastructure and development in the region.
“The supply of 3,200 metric tonne of steel for this key project aligns with our focus on supporting critical infrastructure development through reliable and timely metal sourcing. Enlight Metals is committed to enhancing transparency and efficiency in the steel supply chain, contributing to projects integral to India’s growth objectives,” said Vedant Goel, Director, Enlight Metals.
Enlight Metals has implemented technology-driven solutions to strengthen supply chain efficiency, ensuring consistent availability of construction materials for large-scale projects nationwide. Its contribution to the Navi Mumbai International Airport underscores the company’s growing role in supporting India’s infrastructure development initiatives.
This milestone reflects Enlight Metals’ ongoing engagement in delivering quality materials and timely services for major national projects, further cementing its position as a reliable partner in India’s infrastructure sector

The primary high-power applications are fans and mills

We conduct regular internal energy audits

Enlight Metals Supplies 3,200 Tonne of Steel for Navi Mumbai Airport

World of Concrete India 2025 Showcases Global Expertise and Green Solutions

JSW Cement Opens Rs 1 Billion Plant in Odisha

The primary high-power applications are fans and mills

We conduct regular internal energy audits

Enlight Metals Supplies 3,200 Tonne of Steel for Navi Mumbai Airport

World of Concrete India 2025 Showcases Global Expertise and Green Solutions

JSW Cement Opens Rs 1 Billion Plant in Odisha
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