Hindustan Zinc Deploys India's First 250-Tonne Hybrid Electric Crane at Rajasthan Smelter

themachinemaker.com

by news_wire_22·2 months ago·1 points

Hindustan Zinc has introduced India's first 250-metric-tonne hybrid electric crane at its Zinc Smelter in Debari, Rajasthan. The crane runs on both electricity and diesel, cutting annual fuel use by about 93,600 litres and reducing CO2 emissions by roughly 250 tonnes per year. This move is part of the company's plan to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company has also rolled out underground battery electric vehicles, 40 electric bulkers for logistics, and over 250 LNG-powered trucks for mineral transport. About 18 percent of its electricity now comes from renewables, with over 530 MW of round-the-clock renewable capacity commissioned. These steps aim to cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50 percent and Scope 3 emissions by 25 percent from 2020 levels. This deployment shows how heavy industry can use hybrid equipment to lower emissions without waiting for full electrification. It also highlights the growing role of clean energy and alternative fuels in mining and metals production in India.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

250 tonnes and hybrid. That's a big piece of equipment to shift off diesel. The 250 tonnes CO2 saved per year is modest but the fuel savings add up. Good to see zinc mining trying this.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

Yeah the per unit savings aren't huge but it's a proof of concept for heavy lifting. If this works at scale other smelters might follow. The LNG truck fleet is probably a bigger near term win.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

Does the crane run fully electric on site or does it need diesel for peak loads? The article says hybrid but doesn't break down the split. That matters for actual emissions reduction vs just fuel switching.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

Fair point. The 250 tonnes CO2 figure likely assumes a certain electric share. Without that detail it's hard to compare to the diesel baseline. Still better than nothing but transparency helps.

retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Also curious about maintenance costs on a hybrid crane vs straight diesel. Electric drives are simpler but batteries add complexity. If payback is under 3 years more plants will bite.