Concrete

Waste Heat Recovery System is a key area for cement producers

Published

3 years ago

June 12, 2023

admin

Guilherme Mendonca, Head Energy Business, Siemens, elaborates about co-creating innovative technology solutions for the cement industry.

What are the key features of your Waste Heat Recovery System that make it an eco-friendly solution for cement manufacturing?
Steam turbines are the heart of every power plant. In waste heat recovery (WHR), steam turbines act as an essential piece of the whole system. Our modular design concept ensures high flexibility, availability, and efficiency, playing a significant role in many industrial plants for waste heat recovery and cogeneration application. In India different technologies exist to convert thermal heat into power like Steam Rankine Cycle (SRC), Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Cycle (sCO2). However, only SRC and ORC are fully commercialised with SRC being a more popular technology with decades of proven results. Through efficient use of our steam turbines our customers can extract high power output with the available waste heat, enabling them to reduce their carbon footprint. Siemens Energy WHR solutions are capable of meeting all these requirements which are specific to the Indian
cement industry.

How does your system help reduce carbon emissions during the cement production process?
Waste Heat Recovery System (WHRS) is a key area for cement producers to improve plant efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint by utilising the waste heat from the cement manufacturing process. Siemens Energy’ waste heat recovery system is highly efficient with Heat ReCycle Power Plants offsetting the emissions when compared to other technology that is typically used to generate equivalent power, like diesel generators and reciprocating engines or small coal fired power plants. This results in overall reduced emissions and reduction in dependability on fossil fuels.

What are the estimated energy savings that can be achieved by installing your system in a cement plant?
These plants are highly customised solutions and savings can vary depending upon various factors such as source of upstream power generation, plant configuration and degree of waste heat available. Given ideal conditions, waste heat recovery power plants can offset approximately 30 per cent of total electricity requirement of a typical cement plant in India. In 2012, the Rohrdorf cement works in Germany commissioned the first waste heat and gas power plant in Europe. The plant produced over 30 per cent of the site’s power while saving 12,000 tpa of fossil fuels and reducing CO2 emissions by 30,000tpa. We have come a long way since then in terms of technology adoption and benefits. In practical applications, plants that have implemented waste heat recovery systems have been proven to reduce carbon intensity by as much as 25kg/t of clinker produced.

How long does it take for the system to pay for itself through energy savings?
The pay-off is faster than conventional grid-connected power plants by up to 40 per cent in an ideal situation. This return-on-investment calculation considers 30 per cent electricity offset and variations in energy prices as well as carbon credits and cost of decarbonisation.

What is the expected lifespan of the system, and what maintenance is required to keep it functioning optimally?
Generally, the operating lifespan of steam-based WHRS is 20 years. Typically, it works for 8,000 operating hours per year. The availability and adoption of digital solutions such as remote diagnostic services that allow proactive, predictive maintenance and minimises forced outages.

Can your system be customised to meet the specific needs of different cement plants?
Yes. This is a fully customised solution taking into account all the cement plant constraints and available waste heat sources and quality of waste heat.

What are the major challenges of a WHRS when installed in a cement plant?
Some key challenges of installing WHRS are design limitations due to available technologies and constraints such as source of heat, space available and integration. With these being mostly brownfield projects, the integration with minimum downtime and minimum process disruption also add to the challenges. However, this can be planned and mitigated with efficient project management from Siemens Energy.

How do you envision your collaboration with the cement industry in the decade to come?
We envision a strong collaboration with the cement industry in the decade to come, which is primarily driven by a shared commitment to sustainability and reducing carbon emissions with WHRS at the centre. We see WHRS as a key technology that can help cement manufacturers achieve their sustainability goals while also providing energy savings and cost reductions. Looking to the future, our collaboration with the cement industry will continue to be focused on co-creating innovative technology solutions that are tailored to the specific needs of individual cement plants in India.

–Kanika Mathur

Up Next

Making Cement with Surrogates

Don't Miss

Synthetic lubricants have gained popularity in the cement industry

Concrete

Adani Group To Set Up Cement Factory In Madhya Pradesh

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav inaugurates plant in Guna

Published

9 hours ago

May 18, 2026

admin

Adani Group (Adani) will set up a cement factory in Madhya Pradesh, the chief minister of the state announced after an inauguration ceremony in Guna. The chief minister, Mohan Yadav, described the occasion as a historic day for the state and said the project will strengthen industrial capacity. The event was presented as a milestone in efforts to broaden manufacturing and attract large-scale investment. Officials said the facility will add to regional production capability and support related industries.

State officials outlined that the plant will enhance supply chains for construction and infrastructure projects across the region. The company will bring technical expertise and logistical resources to the site, with government agencies coordinating approvals and land allocation. Local suppliers and service providers will benefit from increased demand, and training initiatives will be developed to build workforce readiness. Officials indicated that the project complements broader plans to modernise industrial clusters in the state.

The state administration said it has facilitated clearances and infrastructure support to accelerate implementation. Local officials have coordinated with the company to ensure connectivity and utilities are in place ahead of commissioning. The chief minister emphasised that collaboration between private investors and the government aims to create sustainable economic growth. Community outreach programmes will address local concerns and establish grievance mechanisms as construction proceeds.

Officials said the inauguration in Guna marks a new phase in the state industrial story and will serve as a reference for future investments. Administrators noted that close monitoring and periodic reviews will guide timely execution and adherence to environmental and safety norms. The government affirmed its commitment to facilitating responsible industrial expansion while ensuring benefits reach local communities. Stakeholders will continue discussions on supply chain integration and long term maintenance arrangements.

Concrete

Railways Boost Cement Movement by 170 Per Cent and Eye Fly Ash

New container wagons cut costs and speed turnaround

Published

9 hours ago

May 18, 2026

admin

Indian Railways has recorded a 170 per cent rise in cement movement in the last four months after reforms launched in November to promote rail based bulk cement logistics. The Union Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, reviewed the container sector reforms and their implementation and described the shift as improving plant to market efficiency. The reforms introduced customised bulk cement tank containers and a bulk cement terminal policy to support multimodal handling and door to door solutions.

The new system has simplified loading and unloading by enabling mechanised operations and by reducing package losses compared with bagged cement transport. Since cement can move directly from manufacturing centres to consumption centres in standardised tank containers compatible with Ready Mix Concrete machines, two stages of handling have been eliminated and material loss has been reduced. The standard shape of the containers facilitates faster turnaround and lowers logistics costs for suppliers and builders.

The improved freight turnaround is helping to lower the delivered cost of cement, which can ease pressure on housing costs for the poor and middle class and support affordable construction. The reform is said to be environment friendly as dust generation during material transfer has fallen and fuel consumption and emissions have reduced due to modal shift from road to rail. The Make in India tank containers are designed for seamless movement between train and trailer and to enable efficient door to door movement while cutting congestion on roads.

Building on the cement reforms, officials were urged to tap the fly ash transportation market to convert industrial waste into national wealth. The minister noted that nearly 300 million metric tonnes (mn t) of fly ash is produced in the country while only about 13 million t is transported by rail and asked officials to substantially increase Railways share to serve brick kilns, cement industries and construction sites. Wider utilisation of fly ash should reduce pollution, promote recycling and lower construction material costs while strengthening sustainable freight movement across infrastructure sectors.

Concrete

Dalmia Bharat launches Weather 365 in East India

New water-repellent cement targets weather-resilient housing demand

Published

3 days ago

May 15, 2026

admin

Dalmia Bharat Cement has launched Weather 365, a super-premium water-repellent cement brand for retail markets in West Bengal and Bihar. The product is designed to address rising demand for durable and weather-resistant construction materials in Eastern India.

Weather 365 offers protection against seepage, dampness and moisture damage, especially in regions exposed to heavy rainfall, humidity and changing weather cycles. The cement is suited for roofs, columns and foundations, and uses uniform water-repellent technology to reduce water penetration, steel corrosion, efflorescence and damp patches.

The company said the product will be available in water-resistant and tamper-proof BOPP packaging. It will also provide on-site technical support through engineering and technical services teams to guide customers on construction practices and long-term building performance.

Positioned in Dalmia Bharat Cement’s premium portfolio, Weather 365 targets homeowners, contractors and builders seeking stronger concrete, improved paint life and better structural durability. The launch supports the company’s strategy to expand premium construction solutions in key Eastern India markets.