Economy & Market

From Grey to Green

Published

11 months ago

November 20, 2025

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Raman Bhatia, Managing Director, Servotech Renewable Power System, outlines how renewable energy integration, innovation and carbon capture can transform cement from a high-emission material into a driver of sustainable growth.

Cement forms the backbone of infrastructure and development, but it also contributes significantly to global CO2 emissions due to its energy-intensive production processes. As India accelerates its growth trajectory while committing to Net Zero ambitions, the focus on reducing the carbon footprint of cement production is more urgent than ever. We believe the theme of the 3Cs: Cut, Cement, Carbon, captures this transition with clarity, reflecting the need to rethink traditional manufacturing approaches, integrate renewable energy, and embrace new technologies that balance productivity with sustainability.

India’s cement industry in theNet Zero era
Cutting emissions in the cement industry is both an environmental necessity and a business imperative. Traditional cement production generates a lot of carbon from the fuels as well as the production process itself. To cut these emissions, producers are increasingly looking at fuel substitution with renewable energy sources, adopting waste heat recovery systems and integrating automation to maximise efficiency. Energy accounts for nearly a third of cement manufacturing costs, making energy efficiency a natural entry point for cutting carbon.
Renewable energy technologies are emerging as transformative solutions. Servotech Renewable has been contributing to this shift by delivering solar power systems, energy storage and green technology solutions that allow industrial plants to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. By integrating renewable energy directly into cement production units, the industry can meaningfully lower its energy-related emissions without compromising on output.
Equally important is innovation in cement itself. Supplementary cementitious materials such as fly ash, slag and calcined clay are viable substitutes that not only lower emissions but also utilise industrial by-products, contributing to a circular economy. The integration of green chemistry principles, alongside process innovations, is helping manufacturers reimagine cement as a material that supports sustainability goals. Servotech’s expertise in delivering scalable renewable energy infrastructure further complements these innovations, providing the reliable, clean power required to operate energy-intensive systems associated with advanced cement production technologies.
Carbon capture and utilisation are the third pillar of this transition. Even with the best practices in efficiency and fuel substitution, cement production will always generate some level of unavoidable CO2 due to calcination. To achieve true decarbonisation, the industry must actively invest in technologies that capture carbon at source and either store it or convert it into usable materials. Globally, pilot projects have already demonstrated the potential of carbon capture systems, and India is beginning to explore these avenues with growing interest. What makes this compelling is the possibility of turning a waste product into a resource that can be used for producing construction materials, fuels or chemicals, thereby creating an entirely new value chain.
A collaborative ecosystem involving manufacturers, renewable technology providers and policymakers is essential at this point to create a roadmap that is both technically feasible and economically viable. Servotech Renewable is playing a vital role in this ecosystem, as our technologies provide the renewable backbone required for decarbonisation efforts to succeed. By supporting cement plants in their transition to clean energy and offering advanced solutions for power stability, we ensure that ambitious sustainability goals translate into ground-level action.
The cement industry’s contribution to India’s GDP and infrastructure development is undeniable, but so too is its responsibility to align with the nation’s climate commitments. The journey toward decarbonisation requires bold investments, steady innovation and a willingness to adopt technologies that may initially seem disruptive but ultimately secure long-term growth. For decades, cement has symbolised strength and durability, but now it must also symbolize responsibility and sustainability. For us, the 3Cs framework highlights a future where cement is no longer viewed as a hard-to-abate sector but as an industry that took bold steps toward transformation.
Our mission aligns with this very vision, transitioning industries to cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable operations. Our expertise across renewable energy, energy storage, and green technology provides the tools and infrastructure for sectors like
cement to embrace decarbonisation meaningfully. As India pushes forward on its Net Zero journey, the cement industry’s ability to cut emissions, innovate materials, and capture carbon will define not
just the future of infrastructure but the resilience of our environmental and economic systems.
By integrating renewable power and carbon-neutral technologies, we can reimagine cement as a foundation not only for urban development but for a truly sustainable tomorrow.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Raman Bhatia, Managing Director, Servotech Renewable Power System, is a renewable energy leader with over 25 years of experience driving India’s solar growth through innovation and sustainable solutions.

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Wonder Cement appoints Mahesh Singh as VP Corporate Brand Communication

Published

11 hours ago

October 9, 2026

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Singh brings 20+ years of brand and marketing experience, and will lead integrated corporate brand communication initiatives at Wonder Cement

New Delhi

Wonder Cement, a leading cement manufacturer, has appointed Mahesh Singh as Vice President – Corporate Brand Communication. In his new role, he will oversee corporate brand strategy and communication, including digital and performance marketing, public relations, trade, events, exhibitions, sports and experiential marketing.

Singh brings over two decades of experience across marketing and communications, with roles spanning the automotive industry, agencies and entrepreneurship. He spent more than a decade with Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, working across integrated communication, media, digital, retail and consumer engagement. His stint also included helping build the company’s digital marketing capabilities.

He moved to dentsu X India as Vice President – Strategy & Planning, working across categories such as automotive, auto components, electric vehicles, FMCG, consumer electronics, BFSI, apparel and brand consulting. His responsibilities included media and marketing strategy, product launches, content, performance marketing and consumer activations.

Singh subsequently took an entrepreneurial route with Radiant Brands before joining Shriram Ltd (SPR Autotech) as Head – Marketing & Communications. There, his remit included brand and corporate strategy, communications, PR and ORM, retail identity, loyalty programmes and events.

At Wonder Cement, Singh will be responsible for bringing together the company’s corporate brand communication initiatives across digital, performance marketing, PR, trade, sports and experiential platforms. The role will focus on creating an integrated approach to communication across consumers, trade partners and other key stakeholders.

The appointment brings to Wonder Cement a marketer whose career has spanned the brand, agency and entrepreneurial sides of the communications ecosystem.

Wonder Cement, part of the RK Group, is a cement manufacturer with roots in Rajasthan and a focus on quality, trust and transparency. The company has grown to six manufacturing plants, and a cement capacity of 21.5 MTPA. With more than 2,000 employees and a network of over 5,000 dealers, its operations span manufacturing, distribution and customer engagement, with a focus on consistent product quality and efficient execution.

Concrete

JSW Cement commissions additional 1 MTPA grinding unit at Nagaur

Published

1 day ago

October 8, 2026

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With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA,
Mumbai

JSW Cement, one of India’s leading green cement producers and part of the diversified JSW Group, today announced the successful commissioning of an additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit at Nagaur, Rajasthan. The commissioning marks another significant milestone in the Company’s growth strategy.

With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA, while its total clinker manufacturing capacity, including clinker capacity at its joint venture, JSW Cement FZC, stands at 9.74 MTPA.

JSW Cement had commenced operations in North India in March 2026 with the Nagaur Integrated Plant, comprising a 3.30 MTPA clinkerisation unit and 2.50 MTPA cement grinding unit. With the commissioning of the additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit, the plant’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 3.50 MTPA, enhancing the company’s ability to cater to the growing cement demand across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the National Capital Region (NCR). The expansion has been funded through a strategic mix of equity and long-term debt.

During the quarter ended 30th September 2026, JSW Cement has also commissioned the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) at the Nagaur Integrated Plant.

Nilesh Narwekar, CEO, JSW Cement, said: “The commissioning of additional 1.00 MTPA grinding capacity at Nagaur is a key strategic priority for us and will accelerate JSW Cement’s expansion into North India. We look forward to servicing the growing needs of the region and contributing to the economic growth of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the NCR area. I am delighted to share that the company has commissioned this grinding unit within the expected timeline, showcasing our project execution capabilities. Further, the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) are expected to substantially reduce our production costs going forward.”

Concrete

UltraTech becomes first Indian cement firm to cross 2 GW green energy

Published

2 days ago

October 7, 2026

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UltraTech Cement has crossed 2 GW of captive green energy capacity, with renewables and waste heat recovery meeting 48 per cent of its power needs.

Mumbai

UltraTech Cement Limited has surpassed 2 GW of installed green energy capacity for captive use, becoming the first cement company in India to achieve the milestone. The Aditya Birla Group company commissioned 116.55 MW of wind capacity at its Inter-State Transmission System-connected wind-solar hybrid project in Barmer, Rajasthan, along with 10 MW of Waste Heat Recovery System capacity at Sarlanagar Cement Works in Karnataka.

With these additions, UltraTech’s cumulative installed green energy capacity has reached 2,024 MW. This includes 1,580 MW of renewable energy capacity and 444 MW of waste heat recovery capacity, together meeting around 48 per cent of the company’s current power requirements.

The company said the milestone reflects the progress of its long-term energy transition strategy. In FY27 so far, nearly one-third of UltraTech’s 76 manufacturing units in India have maintained green energy utilisation above 50 per cent of their electricity requirements, while five units have crossed 95 per cent.

K C Jhanwar, Managing Director, UltraTech Cement Limited, said, “Crossing the 2 GW green energy milestone is the result of a strategy we have pursued consistently over the past decade. Cement is an energy-intensive, hard-to-abate sector, and showing that reliability and growth can go hand in hand with a rapid shift to green energy sets a benchmark for the industry. With nearly half of our power needs now met through green energy, we are significantly less exposed to fossil fuel supply constraints and power price volatility. As we scale up renewables, waste heat recovery and battery storage across our operations, we are building an energy foundation for stable, long-term growth.”

UltraTech commissioned 430 MW of green energy capacity in FY26 and continues to expand its renewable energy and waste heat recovery portfolio.

The company is also progressively integrating Battery Energy Storage Systems across its operations to improve renewable energy utilisation and supply reliability.

In 2025, UltraTech operationalised what it described as India’s first on-site hybrid round-the-clock renewable energy project at Sewagram Cement Works in Gujarat. The project combines solar, wind and battery storage.

As part of its decarbonisation strategy, UltraTech said it has not invested in new captive thermal power capacity for either greenfield projects or brownfield expansions at its integrated units for more than a decade.

The company said its expanding green energy portfolio is helping reduce dependence on conventional grid electricity and fossil fuel-based power, while lowering exposure to fluctuations in coal and electricity prices.

UltraTech aims to increase green energy’s share in its total power mix to 85 per cent by 2030. As a member of RE100, it has also committed to meeting 100 per cent of its electricity requirement through renewable sources by 2050.

UltraTech Cement, the cement flagship of the Aditya Birla Group, has a total grey cement capacity of 210.1 MTPA and white cement and putty capacity of 3.5 MTPA. The company is also a signatory to the GCCA Climate Ambition 2050 and has committed to the GCCA Net Zero Concrete roadmap.