Concrete

From Grey to Green

Published

7 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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Concrete

Star Cement Named Preferred Bidder For Boro Lakhindong Block

Preferred bidder for limestone mining lease in Assam

Published

4 hours ago

June 29, 2026

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Star Cement has been declared the preferred bidder for the mining lease for Boro Lakhindong West Block following e-auctions conducted by the Government of Assam. The block is located in Boro Lakhindong Village, Umrangso Tehsil, Dima Hasao District, Assam, and extends over an area of 123 hectares. The estimated limestone resource is 207.822 million (mn) tonnes (t), a quantity that will supply raw material for cement production and support the company’s manufacturing operations in the region.

The company is engaged in the manufacturing and selling of cement clinker and cement and distributes products across the north-eastern and eastern states of India. Star Cement operates plants and logistics networks that procure and process limestone to produce clinker for cement, and the addition of Boro Lakhindong is presented as a strategic enhancement of feedstock availability. The preferred bidder status secures rights to the specified lease area under the terms of the auction process.

Financial results for the company in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026 showed a consolidated net profit rise of 20.24 per cent to Rs 1,481.0 mn on an 11.54 per cent increase in revenue to Rs 11,735.5 mn compared with the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Those results reflected higher sales volumes and revenue growth in the company’s primary markets and are cited in company disclosures accompanying the lease announcement. The reported performance provides context to the company’s ability to pursue and finance new mining lease opportunities.

Market reaction to the declaration was modest, with the scrip rising zero point thirty six per cent to trade at Rs 212 on the BSE. The award of the Boro Lakhindong lease concludes the e-auction process for the west block and assigns operational rights to Star Cement as the preferred bidder, subject to completion of statutory and contractual formalities.

Concrete

KERC Proposal To Cut Rooftop Solar Export Tariff Raises Concern

Consumers and advocates urge regulator to reconsider change

Published

4 hours ago

June 29, 2026

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The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has proposed a reduction in the tariff paid for surplus electricity that rooftop solar installations export to the grid, prompting concern among consumers, renewable energy advocates and industry specialists. The proposal arrives while the Central government and state governments are promoting clean energy adoption and offering subsidy schemes to encourage rooftop solar deployment. Thousands of households in Karnataka, particularly in Bengaluru, have invested substantial sums in rooftop systems to reduce reliance on conventional power and support state renewable targets.

Stakeholders have raised questions about the implications of a lower export tariff for the financial attractiveness of rooftop solar investments and the pace of the state transition to renewables. Industry analysts warned that a reduction in compensation for excess generation could discourage new installations and extend payback periods for existing systems. Current messaging from authorities, which simultaneously promotes adoption while proposing lower export rates, has been described by user groups as creating contradictory signals for consumers.

Experts argued that policy measures should focus on grid modernisation rather than reducing consumer benefits, with investments in transmission and distribution networks needed to manage higher volumes of distributed solar generation. Consumer groups and renewable advocates are preparing written submissions to the regulator and are urging retention of incentives that support household adoption of rooftop systems. KERC has invited public objections and suggestions as part of a consultation process that will determine the final tariff framework.

The outcome of the consultation is expected to influence the future growth of rooftop solar across the state and shape investor confidence in small-scale renewable projects. Residents who have already installed rooftop panels are monitoring developments closely because changes to compensation mechanisms may affect household finances and the speed of return on investment. Observers noted that coherent policy, aligned incentives and grid upgrades would be essential to sustain momentum in the rooftop solar sector.

Concrete

Indian Railways Plans Green Fly Ash Transport Network

Published

2 days ago

June 27, 2026

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Specialised rail logistics will move fly ash from power plants to infrastructure industries.

New Delhi

Indian Railways is planning a large-scale green logistics initiative to transport fly ash from thermal power plants to industries where it can be reused in infrastructure and construction activities.

The initiative was discussed during a review meeting chaired by Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw. Union Ministers of State for Railways V Somanna and Ravneet Singh Bittu were also present.

India generates nearly 340 million tonnes of fly ash every year from thermal power plants. The proposed initiative aims to create an efficient rail-based transport system using specialised containers and dedicated logistics arrangements to move fly ash safely from power plants to end-use industries.

Fly ash is widely used in road construction, cement manufacturing, brick production, concrete, blocks and boards. By improving its movement through the railway network, the initiative is expected to support better utilisation of this industrial by-product while reducing environmental concerns linked to storage and disposal.

The move also aligns with India’s circular economy goals by converting waste from thermal power generation into a useful raw material for the construction and infrastructure sectors. Wider availability of fly ash can help reduce material costs in areas such as bricks and cement, supporting more affordable infrastructure and housing development.

Through this initiative, Indian Railways aims to provide a cleaner, safer and more organised transport solution for fly ash, turning an environmental challenge into an infrastructure resource.