UltraTech Cement Nears 2 GW Green Power Capacity as Decarbonisation Drive Accelerates

UltraTech Cement has moved close to the 2 GW mark in captive green power capacity as India’s largest cement producer expands renewable electricity and waste heat recovery across its manufacturing network.

The latest figure officially confirmed by UltraTech is 1,897 MW of captive green energy capacity as of Q1 FY2026-27, comprising 1,463 MW of renewable energy capacity and 434 MW of Waste Heat Recovery Systems.

The figure places UltraTech about 103 MW short of 2 GW. Claims that the company has already crossed the 2 GW mark cannot yet be confirmed from its latest official public disclosure.

Green Electricity Reaches 47 Per Cent of UltraTech’s Power Mix

UltraTech’s Q1 FY27 results showed that green electricity accounted for 47 per cent of its power mix by the end of the June 2026 quarter.

During FY26, the company commissioned 371 MW of renewable capacity and 63 MW of additional waste heat recovery capacity. The expansion is particularly significant for cement manufacturing, where electricity consumption is high and energy costs directly affect production economics.

Kukurdih Cement Works Reaches 100 Per Cent Green Electricity

UltraTech’s Kukurdih Cement Works in Chhattisgarh has met 100 per cent of its monthly electricity requirements through green energy since April 2026.

The 3.3 million-tonne-per-annum integrated unit uses a combination of renewable electricity and waste heat recovery. UltraTech also said that nearly one-third of its 76 manufacturing units in India had maintained green-energy utilisation above 50 per cent since April 2026, while five plants exceeded 95 per cent.

Battery Storage Supports Renewable Integration

UltraTech has begun deploying Battery Energy Storage Systems to improve the reliability of renewable electricity at its plants.

At Sewagram Cement Works in Gujarat, the company has demonstrated a 7.5 MW round-the-clock hybrid renewable energy project combining solar, wind and battery storage.

Storage allows cement plants to use a larger share of variable renewable generation while maintaining the continuous power supply required by industrial operations.

Waste Heat Recovery Adds Reliable Low-Carbon Power

Waste heat recovery is an important part of UltraTech’s energy strategy because cement kilns generate large amounts of heat that can be converted into electricity.

UltraTech’s WHRS capacity reached 434 MW by June 2026. Unlike solar and wind, waste heat recovery can operate alongside cement production and therefore provides a more consistent source of power.

UltraTech Avoids New Captive Thermal Capacity

UltraTech says it has not invested in new captive thermal power capacity for greenfield or brownfield expansion at its integrated cement units for more than ten years.

This shift has taken place while the company’s production base has continued to expand. UltraTech crossed 200.1 million tonnes per annum of domestic grey cement capacity in April 2026, while consolidated global cement capacity reached 205.5 MTPA.

The strategy indicates an effort to expand manufacturing without matching that growth with new captive fossil-fuel-based power generation.

UltraTech Targets 85 Per Cent Green Power by 2030

UltraTech has committed to increasing green power to 85 per cent of its electricity mix by 2030 under its RE100 pathway, with a longer-term objective of meeting its electricity requirements entirely from renewable sources by 2050.

Achieving that target will require further expansion of renewable generation, storage, waste heat recovery and grid integration across its manufacturing network.

Cement Decarbonisation Extends Beyond Electricity

Electricity represents only part of cement’s carbon footprint. A large share of emissions comes from the chemical conversion of limestone into clinker, meaning power-sector decarbonisation alone cannot eliminate emissions from cement manufacturing.

UltraTech is therefore also working on carbon capture and utilisation technologies. The company is collaborating with the Department of Science and Technology, IIT Madras and BITS Pilani Goa on an indigenous carbon capture project for cement production.

It is also working with the Institute for Carbon Management at the University of California, Los Angeles on the ZeroCAL process, which seeks to reduce emissions associated with limestone calcination.

UltraTech Moves Closer to a Major Industrial Energy Milestone

UltraTech’s officially confirmed green energy capacity of 1,897 MW places the company within reach of the 2 GW mark while supporting one of the world’s largest cement manufacturing networks.

The combination of renewable electricity, waste heat recovery and battery storage shows how heavy industry can reduce dependence on conventional power while continuing to expand production. UltraTech’s progress also provides a useful indicator of how India’s industrial decarbonisation is moving from pilot projects towards deployment at scale.

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References

UltraTech Cement — UltraTech Achieves Major Decarbonisation Milestone with its First 100% Green Energy Powered Integrated Unit, September 28, 2026.
https://www.ultratechcement.com/corporate/media/press-releases/UltraTech-achieves-major-decarbonisation-milestone-with-its-first-100-green-energy-onwered-integrated-unit

UltraTech Cement — Financial Results: Q1 FY27, July 20, 2026.
https://www.ultratechcement.com/corporate/media/press-releases/financial-results-q1fy27

UltraTech Cement — Financial Results: Q4 FY26, April 27, 2026.
https://www.ultratechcement.com/corporate/media/press-releases/financial-results-q4fy26

UltraTech Cement — Decarbonisation: Key Achievements and Climate Strategy.
https://www.ultratechcement.com/corporate/sustainability/environment/decarbonisation

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