Displaying items by tag: Solar power

India: Birla Corporation plans to increase its cement production capacity to 30Mt/yr in 2030 from 20Mt/yr at present. It made the proclamation in its annual report for the 2021 – 2022 financial year. Recent developments include the inauguration of its 3.9Mt/yr integrated plant at Mukutban in Maharashtra, run under its RCCPL subsidiary. It is the group’s fourth integrated plant and is reportedly the largest single cement production line in the state. The unit also includes a 40MW captive power plant.

Other developments include plans to expand the capacity of its Kundanganj grinding plant in Uttar Pradesh to 3Mt/yr from 2Mt/yr and a plan to build a new 1.2Mt/yr grinding plant at Gaya in Bihar. The group is also increasing production from its captive coal mines. Output from the Sial Ghoghri coal mine has been increased by 20% above its rated capacity to 30,000t/month. Development of the Bikram coal mine has been advanced and production is expected to start in mid-2023. Finally, the group is adding 8MW of solar power capacity at its Chanderia, Satna and Kundanganj plants in the current financial year and a 10.6MW waste heat recovery (WHR) unit is planned for the Mukutban plant.

Slovenia: Salonit Anhovo has launched a new 2.22MW roof-top solar power plant, with all power generated used immediately by the plant. The installation, the largest factory rooftop solar power plant in Slovenia, is expected to generate 2120MWh of electricity per year, enough to power 500 homes. It will reduce CO₂ emissions by 995t/yr.

The solar plant was launched less than 12 months after the contract was signed between Salonit Anhovo and solar plant construction firm Interenerg.

Spain: Cemex España has signed a 10-year renewable energy supply deal with Acciona Energía. The producer expects the contract to cover 30% of its power consumption. It used 30% renewable energy in 2021, and is aiming to achieve 55% renewables use by 2030.

Cemex Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia president Sergio Menendez said "Increasing clean energy consumption plays a key role within our decarbonisation plan." He concluded "This agreement shows commitment to our clean energy transition, adding to the success of similar agreements in other geographies."

Pakistan: Kohat Cement has informed the Pakistan Stock Exchange of its plan to establish a 10MW solar power plant at the site of its Kohat cement plant in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The producer says that the plant will be connected to the national grid.

Morocco: Holcim subsidiary LafargeHolcim Maroc has released information about its 1.6Mt/yr Agadir cement plant in Souss-Massa Region. The producer invested US$299m in the plant’s construction and it has been operational since late 2021. The plant is highly automated in line with Holcim’s Plants of Tomorrow strategy. It will run off wind power from 2023, and also uses alternative fuel (AF). 200 people work at the plant.

In conjunction with its work in setting up the new cement plant, LafargeHolcim Maroc developed drinking water networks in the surrounding area, including the construction of three solar-powered water towers.

Pakistan: Fauji Cement says that its sustainability initiatives across its three cement plants reduced CO₂ emissions by 215,000t in the 2022 financial year. The Pakistan Today newspaper has reported that clinker factor reduction in reduced-CO₂ products such as Askari Green cement and Pamir cement eliminated 89,900t-worth of emissions, 42% of total reductions. Waste heat recovery (WHR) plants eliminated 79,400t of emissions (37%), solar power plants eliminated 31,500t (15%), alternative fuel (AF) substitution eliminated 8030t (3.5%) and reforestation eliminated 600t (2.5%).

Egypt: Lafarge Egypt has signed a US$93m solar energy deal with Lumika Renewables Egypt, a subsidiary of AP Moller Egypt, to produce 140GWh/yr. The agreement is scheduled to become effective by the first quarter of 2024, according to Mist News. Under the terms of the deal the two companies will build a new 50MW solar power plant. This will be the first such plant operated by Lumika Renewables Egypt in the country. The subsidiary of Holcim says it aims to secure a renewable energy supply for 50% of its Ain Al-Sokhna cement plant's total daily energy consumption.

UK: Hanson has signed a memorandum of understanding with Shell to work together to explore opportunities that help the construction industry’s transition to net zero emissions.

Under the agreement the companies plan to explore: using hydrogen for transport and industrial processes; using capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) in cement production; looking at lower carbon fuels and electric vehicles; digital innovations in energy production, consumption and efficiency; improving bitumen and asphalt technology; and renewable energy sources such as solar installations and batteries to replace diesel generators. In addition, the companies say they will consider the possibility of collaborating in future business opportunities or new business models, which will create value and scope for further decarbonisation.

Hanson’s chief executive officer Simon Willis said, “We are already working together on several initiatives to decarbonise asphalt with bitumen materials and innovations which promote long life, increased use of recycled materials, low carbon products and the circular economy.” He added that “Hanson and Shell have a long-established working relationship and are committed to sharing knowledge and resources to jointly work on projects that will facilitate our transition to net zero emissions.”

Zimbabwe: South Africa-based PPC has held a groundbreaking ceremony for a US$40m project to build solar power plants with a joint output of 30MW to support its integrated Bulawayo and Colleen Bawn cement plants. The Bulawayo plant will set up a 10MW plant, with 5MW earmarked for internal use, while the Colleen Bawn plant will develop a 20MW capacity, 12MW being used internally, according to the Chronicle newspaper. The excess electricity will be fed in the national grid. PPC has chosen ATC Consortium to build and operate the solar plants under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

India: HeidelbergCement India has commissioned a 5.5MW solar power plant in its mining area located in Damoh, Madhya Pradesh. The mining operations and clinker plant at Damoh have started receiving electricity from the plant. The solar plant is expected to generate 10GWh/yr, replacing electricity purchased from the grid.