Economy & Market

The systems we design are energy-efficient by nature

Published

2 years ago

December 24, 2024

Roshna

Rahul Rajgor, Managing Director, Fives Combustion Systems, discusses their focus on innovation, energy efficiency and sustainability, emphasising the role of customer collaboration in developing tailored solutions.

Tell us about the innovations and solutions you are providing to the cement industry?
At our company, innovation is not just a concept—it is the cornerstone of our operations. We see ourselves as pioneers within the cement industry, and this mindset extends across all sectors we serve. We truly believe that the best innovations come directly from our customers. Their needs and feedback drive the improvements and new ideas we bring to market. Every year, we make it a priority to introduce fresh innovations, not only within the cement industry but across other industries as well. Our approach to innovation is deeply rooted in collaboration with customers, which we consider partners, and this partnership is essential to our success. We are always ready to take on challenges and tackle the most complex issues in the industry.

How are your solutions aimed at improving energy efficiency in the cement industry?
Energy efficiency and sustainability are at the core of our philosophy. We understand that reducing energy consumption is essential for the future of our planet, and it is something we focus on in every solution we offer. The systems we design are energy-efficient by nature, and we do everything we can to ensure that each system is optimised for maximum performance. Through extensive in-house calculations and analysis, we continually improve our technologies to meet and exceed energy-efficiency standards. Our commitment to the energy sector has been long-standing, and as pioneers in this field, we specialise in providing highly efficient burners and combustion solutions that are specifically designed to reduce CO2 emissions. By doing so, we help cement plants significantly lower their carbon footprints and contribute to global sustainability efforts.

Could you share some of the sustainability or decarbonisation initiatives that your organisation has implemented?
Sustainability is a key priority for us, and we have been actively engaged in decarbonisation efforts for many years. We launched our sustainability program five years ago, with a clear focus on reducing the environmental impact of our operations. Over time, we have become leaders in this space, particularly with the advent of hydrogen technology. We were one of the pioneers in the hydrogen sector, not only in developing hydrogen combustion solutions but also in the liquefaction of hydrogen for use in various industrial applications. In fact, we were the first company in India to sell a hydrogen burner, which was used for a 52-megawatt boiler application. Beyond hydrogen, we are also focused on finding alternative solid fuels for cement manufacturing. We are currently working on developing hybrid technologies that combine hydrogen, alternative solid fuels, and fossil fuels. This combination is crucial for reducing the carbon footprint in the cement industry. We are continuously investing in research and development to create innovative solutions that can accelerate the global shift toward decarbonisation.

How do you tailor your innovative solutions to meet the unique needs of the cement industry?
One of the fundamental aspects of our innovation process is our close partnership with customers. Innovation does not exist in a vacuum—it is driven by the real needs and challenges faced by our customers. We firmly believe that innovation often arises from even the smallest ideas proposed by users. We make it a point to listen carefully to our customers, as their feedback is invaluable. For instance, one of the key innovations we developed—a custom-made burner—was created in collaboration with our customer Holcim Europe. We tailored this burner specifically to meet their needs, which illustrates how we approach innovation: our solutions are not one-size-fits-all. We provide bespoke solutions that are customised to each customer’s specific requirements, making sure that every solution we offer is the best possible fit for the individual circumstances of the customer. This is a significant differentiator for us in a market where many competitors offer generic solutions.

You mentioned a burner developed with the help of your customers. Could you tell us more about it?
Yes, we have developed several advanced technologies in collaboration with Holcim Europe, one of our key partners. A perfect example of this is the custom-built burner we designed together. It was created specifically to meet the unique requirements of Holcim’s operations, ensuring that it delivered optimal performance for their systems. This burner, like all of our innovations, is a result of close collaboration between our engineering teams and the customer. It serves as a reminder that the best solutions often come from understanding the specific needs of the customer and working together to design a tailored solution that achieves the desired results.

Given the level of innovation, what challenges do you face, particularly in the Indian market?
In the Indian market, one of the biggest challenges we face relates to the shortage of sorted waste for use as Alternative Solid Fuel (ASF) or Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF). While we have some of the best technology available for utilising ASF, the issue lies in the lack of a comprehensive waste-sorting infrastructure. In developed nations, waste segregation is well-established, but in India, we are still behind in this regard. For example, industries and communities have yet to fully embrace the importance of sorting waste, which is essential for ASF to be viable as a sustainable fuel alternative. Without proper waste segregation, the potential of ASF remains untapped. To address this, we need to educate not just the industry, but society as a whole, about the importance of waste sorting. This is an area where we see a significant opportunity to improve.

How do you envision the journey toward achieving net-zero emissions, and what role will the cement industry play in it?
The journey toward net-zero emissions is undoubtedly one of the most critical challenges for the cement industry, and the role of combustion solutions is key. The cement industry relies heavily on combustion processes, so as a provider of combustion technologies, we play an integral part in helping the industry meet its net-zero targets. We are heavily involved in research and development to ensure that we are contributing to reducing emissions.
However, it is important to recognise that achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 is a formidable challenge, especially in a country like India, where the cement industry still depends on fossil fuels. The widespread adoption of hydrogen, natural gas and alternative solid fuels will help us significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the cement industry.
While the journey is long, we are confident that, through continuous innovation and collaboration, we will make meaningful progress toward achieving net-zero emissions.

– Kanika Mathur

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Wonder Cement appoints Mahesh Singh as VP Corporate Brand Communication

Published

6 days ago

October 9, 2026

admin

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.

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JSW Cement commissions additional 1 MTPA grinding unit at Nagaur

Published

7 days ago

October 8, 2026

admin

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

1 week ago

October 7, 2026

admin

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.