UltraTech Cement, the world's largest cement maker outside China, has announced that its Kukurdih Cement Works in Chhattisgarh now meets 100% of its electricity demand from green sources as of April 2026. The plant, which has a rated capacity of 3.3 million tonnes per annum, combines renewable power and waste heat recovery systems (WHRS) to achieve this milestone. The company also deploys battery energy storage systems (BESS) across its network to manage renewable intermittency. The company's captive green energy capacity reached 1,897 MW in Q1 FY27, comprising 1,463 MW of solar, wind, and hybrid projects and 434 MW of WHRS. UltraTech is targeting 85% green power by 2030 and 100% by 2050 under its RE100 commitment. While this shift addresses the electricity-related emissions in cement production, process emissions from clinker formation remain a challenge. The IEA notes that two-thirds of cement CO2 comes from the chemical transformation of limestone to clinker, so decarbonization will also require clinker substitution and carbon capture.
