ACC has adopted the use of solar power in the cement manufacturing process at its grinding units in Kudithini and Thondebhavi in Karnataka. The intent is to use about 30MW of solar power at these plants which will meet over half their annual power requirement – an estimated 45 million units of solar power annually. Switching to solar power will reduce CO2 emissions by 38,000 tonnes every year, the equivalent of planting 45,000 trees yearly. An assessment conducted by the Solar Energy Research Institute Singapore (SERIS) certifies this as a saving of 9 crore litres of water annually by avoiding the consumption of coal-fired electricity.
Commenting on the green move, Mr Neeraj Akhoury, Managing Director & CEO, ACC Limited said, “ACC is moving steadfastly towards a greener future. We are very conscious of our responsibilities, so this use of renewable energy is a strong step towards lowering carbon emissions thus minimising our ecological footprint. We are committed to delivering the Company’s ambitious Sustainable Development 2030 Plan”
ACC has signed a 10-year solar power purchase agreement with Amplus Solar and CleanMax Solar to purchase 20MW and 10MW of solar power respectively. We believe this makes ACC one of the largest users of solar power in the Indian cement industry.
Sustainability is deeply embedded in ACC’s business model. In line with the LafargeHolcim Sustainable Development 2030 Plan, it focuses on the four pillars of Climate, Circular Economy, Water & Nature, and People & Communities, and this renewable energy initiative will help deliver on several of these areas.